A Las Vegas teen accused of intentionally ramming a former police chief with his car as part of a violent and comedic crime has been deemed incompetent to stand trial in a fatal hit-and-run case.
Jesus Ayala, 19, was ordered Wednesday into a Nevada psychiatric hospital for remedial treatment, Chief Deputy Public Defender David Westbrook said. Las Vegas Review Journal.
The order, issued by Eighth Judicial District Judge Christy Craig out of an “excess of caution,” suspended criminal charges against Ayala.
Although Craig had previously hinted that he would find the boy competent, Westbrook asked state doctors to review a neuropsychologist's report before making a formal ruling. The Review-Journal reported.
Ayala was indicted on multiple charges in connection with the 2023 murder of Andreas Probst, along with co-defendant Jazamir Keyes, 17.
Attorneys may also submit new evidence of competency, including Ayala's conduct, demeanor in court, and refusal to participate in competency evaluations, pursuant to a mandatory order. Obtained by KTNV.
Ayala was sent to Lakes Crossing Center, a high-security psychiatric facility in Sparks, Nevada, outside Reno.
New charges were filed Thursday against Ayala, charging him with robbery with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and grand theft of a motor vehicle, according to court records reviewed by the newspaper.
Mr. Westbrook questioned why Mr. Ayala was indicted amidst competency issues.
“They knew their competency was being questioned and they chose to file this case anyway,” he told the outlet.
Medical professionals have been evaluating Ayala since August, but doctors disagreed on whether he was competent enough to stand trial after being examined by a psychologist.
Doctors believe Ayala has some sort of brain damage, and Westbrook said several people have described his condition as “pretty severe brain damage.”
Ayala and Keyes were charged with multiple felonies, including murder, assault, attempted murder, grand theft of a vehicle, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Ayala, who was just 17 at the time, and Keyes, 16, allegedly recorded themselves punching Probst, 64, who was riding a bicycle on a nearby street.
Horrifying video shot from the passenger seat shows the stolen car approaching Probst from behind and suddenly slamming into her, sending her beloved husband flying through the hood and windshield.
He then laughed and dumped the bloody car about ten generations away. 8NewsNow reported They crashed it near a shopping mall before stealing two more cars.
The teens reportedly committed a brutal crime spree that morning, hitting a 72-year-old cyclist just before dawn.
Ayala was arrested by police a few hours later, but he boasted that he would be released within a month.
“This is what this boy would think.” [expletive] I'm going to do something [expletive]According to KLAS, Ayala told police:
Ayala also faces attempted murder charges in a separate “extremely violent” gang attack in which one person was stabbed multiple times.
The stabbing victim suffered multiple lacerations, including a large laceration to the head, before being treated at University Medical Center (UMC) on June 27, 2023.
Ayala's trial for Probst's murder was scheduled for November.
Keyes will appear in court again on Oct. 22, and the trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 12, according to court records.
