Las Vegas teen accused of killing ex-police chief unfit for trial, judge rules

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A judge has deemed a teenager accused of intentionally hitting and killing a former police chief who was riding his bike not competent to stand trial, records said.

Police arrested Jesus Ayala, 19, on Aug. 14, 2023, shortly after retired California police chief Andy Probst, 64, was killed while riding his bicycle in the northwest valley. Video from that morning’s alleged crime spree showed two bicyclists appearing to be intentionally hit in separate locations.

Ayala’s public defender had requested Judge Christy Craig deem Ayala incompetent amid conflicting psychological evaluations and possible “brain damage,” records said. Craig ordered Ayala to one of two state forensic hospitals on Wednesday, according to court documents.

Records show two doctors found Ayala competent to stand trial, meaning he understood the charges against him and could aid his attorney. Another doctor found Ayala incompetent to stand trial, records said, prompting Clark County Public Defender David Westbrook to ask the judge to declare Ayala incompetent to stand trial.

A November trial for Ayala and his co-defendant, Jzamir Keys, 17, will most likely be delayed — it will take months for Ayala to be transferred to a facility alone.

Records indicate Ayala faces new charges of robbery, assault and grand larceny in a case prosecutors filed on Monday. Specific details about that incident were not clear as of Wednesday.

In a third case, Ayala is accused in a June 2023 stabbing — weeks before Probst’s death, documents said.

Ayala has remained in custody since his arrest last year.

If convicted, the maximum penalty the teens could receive would be life in prison with the possibility of parole. By law, the death penalty cannot be pursued against a defendant unless they are 18 or older at the time of the crime. Life without parole is also taken off the table for defendants under the age of 18.

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