Teens facing murder charges laugh, gesture at victim’s family in court
Two teenagers accused of killing a 66-year-old bicyclist were seen laughing and smiling in the direction of the victim’s family during a court hearing on Tuesday.
Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16, both face charges of murder in connection with the fatal hit-and-run crash that killed Andreas Probst. The retired police chief’s widow and daughter, 60-year-old Crystal Probst and 27-year-old Taylor Probst, said they saw the two teenagers laugh in their direction and flip them off while they were waiting for Tuesday’s hearing to start.
Crystal Probst said she didn’t let the two teenagers bother her, although she and her daughter believed that Ayala and Keys were trying to intimidate them.
“It just makes him look bad,” she said, after describing Ayala pointing his middle finger in her direction.
The two have been indicted on charges of murder, attempted murder, failing to stop at the scene of a crash, battery, residential burglary, grand larceny of a vehicle and possession of a stolen vehicle. Both have pleaded not guilty, and appeared on Tuesday before District Judge Jacqueline Bluth, who set a Sept. 16 trial date for the pair.
Keys is accused of filming a disturbing video showing the two laughing and intentionally hitting Probst. They are also accused of hitting another bicyclist earlier that morning, and crashing into another car just before ramming into Probst. Police have said the teenagers stole multiple vehicles during the crime spree.
Taylor Probst said Tuesday that the teenagers’ behavior in court and in the videos of the crash have made her angry.
“How can you sit there after taking a man’s life and act like such an entitled p——?” she said after Tuesday’s hearing.
Crystal Probst said she and her daughter intend to continue attending court appearances, and that they both want the case to stay on the public’s mind.
She attended court on Tuesday wearing her husband’s smartwatch that he was wearing when he was killed, which she said reminds her to fight in honor of her husband’s memory. The screen of the watch was badly cracked, obscuring the Mickey Mouse logo that showcased her husband’s love of Disney.
“It reminds me he’s here with me in the courthouse,” Crystal Probst said.
Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240.
