Jesus Ayala, a 19-year-old accused of fatally running over a retired police officer, has been declared unfit to stand trial next month. He has been transferred from prison to a maximum-security psychiatric facility in Las Vegas for further competency testing after his August 2023 arrest for the murder of 64-year-old Andreas Probst.
When arrested, Ayala allegedly laughed and told police, “I’ll be out in 30 days… it’s just a hit-and-run – slap on the wrist.” However, doubts about his mental competency have surfaced recently. During a competency hearing, Ayala’s public defender mentioned that some doctors are concerned he may have brain damage.
The criminal proceedings against him must be paused until a determination is made regarding his fitness to stand trial. Ayala and his co-accused, Jzamir Keys, who were 17 and 15 at the time of the incident, cannot face the death penalty or life without parole if convicted. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson noted that the maximum penalty they could receive is life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years.
At the time of Probst’s death, Ayala and Keys were reportedly in the middle of a crime spree, having stolen several cars and previously hitting another cyclist, a 72-year-old man, who survived with minor injuries. Probst was on a bike ride when he was struck from behind and left on the side of the road.
In addition to the murder charge, Ayala faces an attempted murder charge for allegedly stabbing a man in the face on June 27, 2023. The outcome of the competency hearing will also impact the court proceedings related to that case.
An arrest report indicates that Ayala is affiliated with the ‘Night Crawlers’ gang, and he has “NC” tattooed on his cheek.
