The killing of Andreas “Andy” Probst, 64, shifted from crash to homicide after investigators obtained a cellphone video.
LAS VEGAS — Two young men were sentenced Tuesday to decades-to-life in Nevada state prison for deliberately running down retired California police chief Andreas “Andy” Probst as he bicycled in northwest Las Vegas on Aug. 14, 2023, ending a case that drew national attention.
Clark County District Judge Jacqueline Bluth imposed 20 years to life on Jesus Ayala and 18 years to life on Jzamir Keys after both pleaded guilty in October to second-degree murder and related counts. Prosecutors said the pair, then 17 and 16, were in a stolen Hyundai and recorded the strike from inside the car. The case resonated beyond Las Vegas because the footage showed laughter and a sudden swerve into the bike lane. The hearing concluded a two-year path from arrests to adult court, plea deals and final punishment.
According to police and court records, the morning began with a nonfatal hit on a 72-year-old bicyclist, continued with a crash into a Toyota Corolla, and culminated minutes later when the stolen car approached Probst from behind on a wide, low-traffic road in the Centennial Hills area. The passenger filmed as the driver accelerated, clipped the rear of the bike and struck Probst, who was thrown onto the windshield before landing near the curb. Officers arrested the suspected driver later that day after the separate crash; the passenger was identified weeks later when a school resource officer turned over the video. At sentencing, Bluth said the conduct caused “incalculable” harm to the family and community.
The defendants, now 20 and 18, were certified to adult court soon after charges were upgraded to murder in September 2023. Investigators cited the cellphone video, damage to the Hyundai’s windshield consistent with impact, and statements tying the pair to the morning’s spree. Ayala admitted second-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon and battery with a deadly weapon connected to the earlier hit; Keys admitted second-degree murder. The Probst family offered tearful statements describing a father and husband who spent more than 35 years in law enforcement, including a tenure as police chief in Bell, California. Neither defendant addressed the court before sentencing.
Public interest surged when the video circulated widely the month after the killing. Sheriff’s officials called the strike “cowardly,” and local leaders promised a thorough prosecution. The case moved through pretrial hearings, including competency reviews and trial-setting for 2024, before plea negotiations advanced this fall. Separately, relatives filed a wrongful death lawsuit tied to the stolen-vehicle issue. In northwest neighborhoods, cycling advocates pointed to the crash corridor’s mix of fast traffic and bike lanes as they renewed calls for safer design, noting that Probst’s morning rides were routine.
Tuesday’s proceeding drew a packed courtroom at the Regional Justice Center. Probst’s widow, Crystal, told the judge her husband should have been planning golf rounds and future family milestones; instead, she said, the family faced “a void.” Prosecutors argued the sentences matched the gravity of an intentional killing recorded on video and a pattern of recklessness that morning. Defense lawyers said the pleas spared the family a trial and preserved a narrow path to parole review after long minimum terms. Court staff said credits for time served will be calculated by the Department of Corrections.
With sentencing complete, both men were ordered into state custody. Under Nevada law, Ayala must serve at least 20 years and Keys at least 18 years before parole eligibility. Any restitution or civil matters will proceed separately. The corrections department will post formal parole-eligibility dates after intake processing in the weeks ahead.
Author note: Last updated December 17, 2025.