Teen accused of killing bicyclist faces another attempted murder charge

A teenager accused of killing a bicyclist in a fatal hit-and-run last year is now facing an attempted murder charge in a separate case in which police identified him as a gang member.

Jesus Ayala, 18, made an initial court appearance on Thursday in connection with the new case, in which he faces a charge of attempted murder with a deadly weapon in connection with a stabbing in June. A Metropolitan Police Department arrest report for the stabbing identified Ayala as a member of the “Night Crawlers criminal gang.”

Ayala has been pictured in court with a black “NC” tattoo on his cheek. He and another teenager, 16-year-old Jzamir Keys, were previously charged with the killing of 66-year-old bicyclist and retired police chief Andreas Probst.

Police received a report of the stabbing after the victim was taken to University Medical Center on June 27. The victim had multiple injuries, including stab wounds to his face and back, according to the arrest report.

The victim told police that he was drinking outside his home when a teenager walked by him, and he accused the teen of stealing something from him. He then followed the teenager, and five other people came to the area and attacked him.

A witness told police the attack was “extremely violent” and said that if it had “lasted longer than a minute they would’ve killed” the victim, the report said.

Police later received reports of a group of teenagers attempting to steal a vehicle near where the stabbing happened. Investigators also obtained messages between Ayala and one of the teens arrested in connection with the stolen vehicle, in which the two were talking about the theft, according to the arrest report.

Another teenager tied to the stolen vehicle identified Ayala as “one of the ‘big homies.’” The juvenile placed Ayala at the scene of a recent robbery that happened at a church but did not confirm if Ayala was present for the stabbing.

A month after Ayala was arrested in connection with the fatal hit-and-run, the victim who was attacked in June identified Ayala in a photo lineup as the person who stabbed him, the report said.

A knife found at the scene of the stabbing did not have “a suitable print match” for Ayala, but the officer who authored the arrest report noted that DNA testing has not been completed.

In an interview with police, Ayala denied being a member of a gang and denied “having been involved with any stabbing incident,” the report said.

Ayala and Keys have been in custody since August in connection with the fatal hit-and-run. They face charges of murder, attempted murder, failing to stop at the scene of the crash, battery, residential burglary, grand larceny of a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with the series of crimes that led to Probst’s death.

Keys is accused of filming a disturbing video of Ayala laughing and intentionally ramming into the back of Probst’s bicycle before driving away.

The two were also accused of stealing multiple cars and filming themselves intentionally hitting another bicyclist and rear-ending a separate vehicle before striking Probst.

Ayala remained in the Clark County Detention Center on Thursday without bail.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.