Current:Home > FinanceRetired police chief killed in hit-and-run died in 'cold and callous' way: Family -ValueCore
Retired police chief killed in hit-and-run died in 'cold and callous' way: Family
View
Date:2025-04-17 11:45:22
As two teenagers face murder charges in an alleged intentional hit-and-run that killed a retired police chief who was biking in Las Vegas, the victim's family is reeling from the "cold and callous" way he died.
Andreas "Andy" Probst, 64, a former police chief for Bell, California, died after a vehicle slammed into him while riding in a designated bike lane last month, authorities said. Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill called it a "senseless murder," with the two suspects accused of intentionally striking Probst and then leaving him for dead.
"We are beside ourselves with the tragic loss of my husband and our children's father," the Probst family said in a statement to ABC News on Tuesday. "There are no words in this world that can express how truly devastated and heartbroken we are. Andy was a one-of-a-kind man, and for two individuals to take his life in such a cold and callous way is sick."
"We are praying that justice is served," they said.
Probst served in law enforcement for more than 35 years, his daughter said at a press briefing last week, calling him a man of "honor and integrity" who was a "Little League dad" and "honorary member of Girl Scouts."
The two teens -- Jesus Ayala, 18, and Jzamir Keys, 16 -- are accused of committing a series of crimes the morning of Aug. 14 -- four car thefts and three hit-and-runs, including the one that killed Probst, authorities said.
Both have been charged with murder with use of a deadly weapon, battery with use of a deadly weapon and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon. Ayala, who is accused of driving a stolen Hyundai Electra during Probst's alleged hit-and-run, is also charged with leaving the scene of a crash and possession of a stolen vehicle, among other charges.
MORE: Suspect sought in murder of 26-year-old tech CEO: Police
Police said Keys was driving during the first hit-and-run and, while a passenger, recorded footage of the vehicle striking Probst.
Both are being tried as adults, prosecutors said.
The two teens appeared in court Tuesday and continue to be held without bail. Ayala's preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 10, while Keys' was set for Nov. 8.
Ayala's public defender, David Westbrook, declined to comment on the case when contacted by ABC News.
The latest court appearances came as the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department this week released the 911 calls made in connection with their alleged crime spree.
The suspects are accused of initially hitting a 72-year-old bicyclist. The man called 911 around 5:27 a.m. PT to report that a car "just ran me over on my bicycle" then "took off."
"He ran me over on purpose," the victim said. "He got behind me, I was watching in my rearview on my bicycle, and I'm going, 'Oh s---,' and I got as far to the right, up against the curb as I could."
"I was hoping that maybe the police can make a connection because he could have killed me," said the man, who according to police suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated on scene.
MORE: Man charged with murder after killing his sister and 6-year-old niece in head-on car crash
The suspects are then accused of intentionally striking a Toyota Corolla, whose driver suffered non-threatening injuries, before fleeing and hitting Probst in the Hyundai Elantra.
The first call reporting the crash involving Probst came in around 6:03 a.m. PT when a woman reported a man was hit by a car outside her apartment.
"I think the man may be dead," she said.
Around 6:05 a.m. PT, Probst's Apple Watch apparently called 911 to report that the owner had "taken a hard fall and is not responding to their watch," then provided an address.
More calls followed. Among them, around 6:13 a.m. PT, a person called 911 to report a vehicle speeding down the road "only on three wheels" that nearly crashed in an intersection.
At 6:17 a.m. PT, a driver bringing his children to school reported the vehicle abandoned, still running. "The windshield looks like they hit someone," the man said.
veryGood! (925)
Related
- Nearly 400 USAID contract employees laid off in wake of Trump's 'stop work' order
- See Robert De Niro and Girlfriend Tiffany Chen Double Date With Sting and Wife Trudie Styler
- Climate Change Threatens a Giant of West Virginia’s Landscape, and It’s Rippling Through Ecosystems and Lives
- World’s Most Fuel-Efficient Car Makes Its Debut
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Report: Bills' Nyheim Hines out for season with knee injury suffered on jet ski
- Horoscopes Today, July 23, 2023
- This Coastal Town Banned Tar Sands and Sparked a War with the Oil Industry
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Montana House votes to formally punish transgender lawmaker, Rep. Zooey Zephyr
Ranking
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- The COVID public health emergency ends this week. Here's what's changing
- Climate Change Threatens a Giant of West Virginia’s Landscape, and It’s Rippling Through Ecosystems and Lives
- What lessons have we learned from the COVID pandemic?
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Cause of Keystone Pipeline Spill Worries South Dakota Officials as Oil Flow Restarts
- You'll Simply Adore Harry Styles' Reunion With Grammys Superfan Reina Lafantaisie
- Summer House Reunion: It's Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke vs. Everyone Else in Explosive Trailer
Recommendation
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Ariana Madix Shares Surprising Take on Vanderpump Rules' Scandoval Reunion Drama
'A Day With No Words' can be full of meaningful communication
Bernie Sanders announces Senate investigation into Amazon's dangerous and illegal labor practices
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
In the Mountains, Climate Change Is Disrupting Everything, from How Water Flows to When Plants Flower
UPS eliminates Friday day shifts at Worldport facility in Louisville. What it means for workers
Looking for a refreshing boost this summer? Try lemon water.