LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The two teen suspects accused of intentionally hitting and killing retired Bell, Cali. police chief Andreas Probst will remain in custody with no bail.
Jesus Ayala (18) and Jzamir Keys (16) appeared in separate courtrooms before a justice court judge on Tuesday. Ayala is being represented by public defender David Westbrook. Keys is being represented by family hired attorney Dan Hill.
Hill is the attorney who represented Ammon Bundy during the Bundy standoff trial, according to the criminal defense lawyer's website.
Both defense counsels chose not to discuss bail arguments during Tuesday’s proceedings.
“What you saw this morning is both defendants being arraigned on the formal charges,” said Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson. “Both of these defendants have been charged with murder with use of deadly weapon, attempted murder with use of deadly weapon and a number of other felonies.”
Teen suspects accused of intentionally killing retired police chief Andreas Probst are being held at no bail.
— Jaewon Jung (@jaewonnews) September 26, 2023
Bail arguments not heard today.
Next step is preliminary hearing. Ayala's (18) is on 10/10. Keys' (16) is on 11/8.@KTNV pic.twitter.com/fXQjosiMhP
Wolfson said because bail was not addressed for both defendants, the two will be held at no bail at least until the preliminary hearing. The DA's office had filed criminal complaints on Monday.
“We will be seeking no bail continuously,” Wolfson said.
Currently, the two cases are filed separately because the suspects were booked separately. However, Wolfson said he is confident the case will be consolidated in the near future. As for the possibility of death penalty, Wolfson said it’s premature to comment.
“We have a process in place in considering whether or not to file a notice of death penalty,” Wolfson said. “That’s an extremely important process and it’s too early on to discuss that at this point.”
Ayala’s preliminary hearing date is scheduled for Oct. 10. Keys’ preliminary date is scheduled for Nov. 8th.
However, the possibility of the cases going to the grand jury is still open.
“We’re considering all our options,” Wolfson said. “The discussions of whether or not to take this to a grand jury will take place in the near future.”
Wolfson was joined in the court by the family of Probst Tuesday morning. He described the family as “strong and attentive.”
“They’re good people,” Wolfson said. “They loved their husband and father and that’s why they’re attending every court appearance.”
The Probst Family sent the following statement to ABC News:
"We are beside ourselves with the tragic loss of my husband and our children's father. There are no words in this world that can express how truly devastated and heartbroken we are. Andy was a one-of-a-kind man and for two individuals to take his life in such a cold and callous way is sick. We are praying that justice is served."
Longtime friend of Probst, Don Meredith, said Probst was a good leader who cared about the community and his family.
"I knew Andy mainly professionally back he was in Bell PD," said Meredith. "His agency, his officers really respected him."
Meredith is a retired Glendale, California police lieutenant and said he worked with Probst in a countywide traffic safety task force.
"The quality of his character is probably the most foremost thing people should remember," said Meredith. "To be murdered the way he was murdered, it was truly tragic. That's not the way he should've gone out."
Metro investigators said Ayala was the driver and Keys was the passenger in an intentional hit-and-run, striking and killing Probst from behind on North Tenaya Way near Centennial Parkway on August 14th.
Police said Keys recorded the incident and the video has since gone viral. Channel 13 has decided to only share selected screenshots of the video out of respect for the Probst family.
