Two teenagers have been handed lengthy prison sentences for the callous murder of a retired police officer, an attack they filmed and laughed about before sharing the footage online.
A Heinous and Calculated Attack
On August 14, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada, 20-year-old Jesus Ayala intentionally drove a stolen Hyundai into 64-year-old Andreas "Andy" Probst as he rode his bicycle. His accomplice, 18-year-old Jzamir Keys, recorded the incident on a mobile phone. The court heard that Ayala rammed the bicycle with such force that Mr Probst was thrown backward across the bonnet and into the windscreen. Disturbingly, voices, including laughter, can be heard in the background of the video as they drove away, leaving the victim to die.
Justice Served After Social Media Outcry
The graphic video was posted on social media, where it went viral and ultimately led to the arrests of Ayala and Keys. The footage was even shared by billionaire Elon Musk, amplifying public outrage. Both defendants, who were juveniles at the time of the crime, later admitted to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon in October as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.
At their sentencing, a judge described the murder as among the most "callous and heinous" acts he had witnessed in his career. Jesus Ayala was sentenced to 20 years in jail, while Jzamir Keys received an 18-year sentence. Chief Deputy District Attorney John Giordani stated, "Although the defendants were young, they knew right from wrong... I hope this sentence sends a message to other juveniles that life is sacred and if you take a life, you are forfeiting yours."
Aftermath and Wider Implications
Ayala, identified in court as a member of the Las Vegas Night Crawlers gang, later expressed remorse. His attorney, P David Westbrook, said his client accepted the life sentence to "spare the victims’ families from the additional pain of going through a criminal trial."
The victim, Andy Probst, was a former police chief for Bell, California. His family remembered him as a devoted father who was "always there" for them. In a related civil action, Mr Probst's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Company. They alleged the teenagers stole the vehicle using the so-called "TikTok method," a technique spread on social media that involves using a screwdriver and USB cable to start certain models.
This case contributed to wider legal action, and on Tuesday, Hyundai and Kia settled a multistate lawsuit by agreeing to repair millions of vehicles for free to install proper anti-theft technology.
