Two violent individuals were seen laughing as one of them crashed a stolen vehicle into a retired police officer, leaving him to die. Jesus Ayala, aged 20, deliberately drove the stolen car into Andreas “Andy” Probst while 18-year-old Jzamir Keys filmed the incident on his phone. The disturbing footage, shared on social media, led to their arrests.
Ayala received a 20-year jail sentence, while Keys was sentenced to 18 years by a judge who described the murders as extremely callous and heinous. Both individuals pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon in a deal with the prosecutors.
The Chief Deputy District Attorney, John Giordani, emphasized that despite their age, the defendants knew the difference between right and wrong, and their actions were inexcusable. He hopes this sentence serves as a deterrent to other juveniles, highlighting the sanctity of life and the consequences of taking a life.
During the court proceedings in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was revealed that Ayala rammed his vehicle into Mr. Probst, causing the 64-year-old to be thrown backward onto the car’s hood and windshield. The incident occurred on August 14, 2023, and both Ayala and Keys were arrested following the circulation of the video on social media platforms, including a share by Elon Musk.
Ayala, reportedly affiliated with the Night Crawlers gang in Las Vegas, expressed remorse for the murder. His attorney, P. David Westbrook, stated that Ayala acknowledges he can never undo his actions but hopes to show remorse by accepting the life sentence and sparing the victims’ families from a trial.
Mr. Probst, a former police chief in Bell, California, near Los Angeles, was remembered by his daughter for his constant presence in family activities. In 2023, the Probst family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Company, alleging that Ayala and Keys stole the vehicle using the “Tik Tok method” demonstrated on social media.
Recently, Hyundai and Kia settled a multistate lawsuit related to similar claims, agreeing to provide free repairs to millions of vehicles to enhance their anti-theft technology.