Jesus Ayala: Teen accused of mowing down ex-cop tried to stab another man months before fatal hit-and-run
LAS VEGAS, NEVED: A Las Vegas teen charged as an adult after allegedly running down and killing a cyclist is facing a new attempted murder charge in an entirely separate case, Fox5 Vegas reports.
Jesus Ayala, 18, is a co-defendant with Jzamir Keys on 14 felony charges following the murder of Andreas Andy Probst, a retired police chief, last year. On January 17, he was arrested for attempted murder and now prosecutors are willing to lump this into his already-existing murder case, TMZ reports.
What is Jesus Ayala accused of?
Las Vegas teen accused of intentionally running over a retired California police chief is now facing new charges of attempted murder connected to a stabbing that happened months before the fatal hit-and-run.
Ayala, who is awaiting trial for the murder of Andreas Probst was arrested on January 17 for an “extremely violent” group attack resulting in one person being stabbed multiple times in June.
"Recently it came to our attention that he allegedly was involved in an attempted murder case, a stabbing, so we charged him with crimes resulting in that,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told KSNV.
Before seeking care at University Medical Center on June 27, 2023, the stabbing victim had many lacerations, including a significant one to his head, according to a police complaint cited by FOX 5 Vegas.
The patient's roommate drove him to UMC after he initially informed authorities that an ambulance had taken him to the hospital. According to hospital records read by the publication, they were treated for acute traumatic pain and multiple stab wounds to the face and back.
According to KSNV, the victim reported on the day of the incident, he was approached by an unidentified man who accused him of stealing something, and then five more people showed up and started attacking.
The “extremely violent” attack had lasted for approximately a minute, any longer, and a witness said the victim would’ve been killed by the suspects, described as all being under the age of 18.
Multiple witnesses have identified Ayala as one of the attackers, but police were unable to produce a "suitable print match" linking the teenager to the crime site despite the discovery of a bloody knife close to the scene, according to the report.
The report also stated that investigators discovered footage posted on Instagram showing one of the suspects with an "NC" tattoo on their face and that a witness claimed Ayala was one of the "big homies."
Jesus Ayala denies new attempted murder charge
Ayala was interviewed by detectives on January 16 and denied having any involvement with the stabbing, but the charge against the teen was officially filed on January 19.
"Mr Ayala is entitled to his day in court, he is entitled to have a good lawyer, he is entitled to cross-examine the witnesses, he is entitled to present devices on his own behalf,” County District Attorney, Wolfson said. “But at the end of the day we have a jury system and court jury will decide his guilt or innocence," Wolfson added.
In addition to the several accusations he was already facing for Probst's death, Ayala has been charged with attempted murder and battery with the use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily injury, according to jail records obtained by The New York Post.
Ayala is being held without being able to post bail for the alleged murder of Probst, who was riding his bicycle on August 14 when the 16-year-old child and his traveler, 16-year-old Jzamir Keys, videotaped themselves purposefully crashing a stolen car into the rider.
Their court trials are scheduled to begin in November, while Ayala’s new case has a preliminary hearing date which is set for February 28.
"We feel very confident in the strength of our case, we feel very confident that we will get justice for these victims,” Wolfson added. “What I care about is the evidence we present and achieving justice for our victims that is what is important to me,” he said,
