Two young men have been handed life sentences in a Nevada court for the deliberate and fatal hit-and-run of a retired police chief, a crime that was captured in a chilling video. Jesus Ayala, 20, and Jzamir Keys, 18, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon for the August 2023 incident that killed 64-year-old Andreas "Andy" Probst.
Shocking Video Captures Callous Crime
The court heard how the pair, in a stolen vehicle, targeted Probst as he was cycling near the curb on a quiet road in Las Vegas. A video taken from the passenger seat shows the car swerving towards the retired chief before striking him. Disturbingly, voices can be heard laughing in the vehicle as the collision occurs, sending Probst over the bonnet and into the windscreen.
The footage was later provided to investigators by a school resource officer and subsequently posted on social media, where it was shared by Elon Musk, drawing intense national scrutiny to the case. This digital evidence was pivotal in the swift arrest of Ayala and Keys.
Maximum Sentences Imposed on Juvenile Offenders
On Tuesday, 17 December 2024, a judge imposed the maximum possible sentences given the defendants' ages at the time of the crime. Ayala was sentenced to 20 years to life, while Keys received 18 years to life. As they were juveniles when the murder was committed, these terms represent the upper limit of the court's sentencing range. They will be eligible for parole after serving their minimum terms.
Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani condemned the act as the most "callous and heinous" he had encountered in his career. In a statement, he emphasised that the defendants' youth did not excuse their actions, stating the sentence should send a message that "life is sacred and if you take a life, you are forfeiting yours."
Aftermath and Wider Implications
In a statement to the Associated Press, Ayala's attorney said his client was "truly sorry" and had accepted the life sentence to spare the victim's family the pain of a trial. Keys' attorney did not provide comment.
The case had further repercussions beyond the criminal trial. Probst's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Hyundai, alleging the vehicle was stolen using a method popularised on social media, known as the "TikTok challenge." This week, Hyundai and Kia settled a multistate lawsuit on similar grounds, agreeing to provide free anti-theft upgrades for millions of vehicles.
The family also reported that during a prior court hearing, Ayala and Keys had laughed in their direction, underscoring the lack of remorse that so horrified prosecutors and the public alike.
