Teens charged with murder in fatal hit-and-run appear in court

Two teens charged with murder and accused of filming themselves mowing down a retired police chief in a fatal hit-and-run last month appeared in court Tuesday morning.

Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, were formally charged Monday with murder, battery and attempted murder charges in connection with a series of alleged crimes from Aug. 14, which included the killing of 64-year-old Andreas Probst.

Although prosecutors said they were prepared to present arguments on Ayala and Keys’ custody status on Tuesday, defense attorneys for both defendants reserved the right to hold a bail hearing at a later date.

“I certainly intend to ask for no bail,” Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani said during Keys’ court appearance, adding that he will call a witness to testify for a future bail hearing.

In the meantime, both will continue to be held in the Clark County Detention Center without bail.

Chief Deputy Public Defender David Westbrook, who is representing Ayala, and attorney Dan Hill, who has been retained by Keys’ family, declined to comment on the cases on Tuesday morning.

Ayala, who was 17 at the time of the hit-and-run, is accused of driving a stolen Hyundai Elantra and intentionally striking Probst as he rode his bicycle. Keys filmed a disturbing video of the two laughing and planning to hit Probst, according to a Metropolitan Police Department arrest report.

The two are also accused of filming themselves intentionally striking another bicyclist, and hitting a vehicle minutes before ramming into Probst, the report said.

Probst’s widow and daughter again attended the court hearings on Tuesday. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said Probst’s family plans to continue participating in the court proceedings with prosecutors.

“They’re good people,” he said. “They loved their husband and father, that’s why they’re attending every court appearance.”

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