The two teens accused of killing a retired California police chief in a hit-and-run in Las Vegas in August had charges against them upgraded to murder last week and both will be tried as adults, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
Jesus Ayala, 17, and Jzamir Keys, 16, appeared in separate hearings in Family Court last Wednesday where they both were ordered transferred to Clark County Detention Center to face trial as adults.
The two teenagers are accused of intentionally hitting Andreas Probst, 64, as he was riding his bike on August 14.
Ayala is accused of being behind the wheel of the vehicle while Keys filmed the incident on his cellphone.
In the disturbing video, which was shared online, the two tens are heard laughing while approaching Probst on his bike. Keys is heard telling Ayala to “hit his a**” before the car rams Probst from behind.
Clark County Deputy District Attorney Michael Watson informed the judges at both hearings that the defendants face charges of murder with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, and battery.
Watson told the judge in Ayala’s hearing that the teen had another case in juvenile court for which he is also eligible to be charged as an adult. However, he did not go into detail about the separate case.
According to the Las Vegas Metro Police, before striking Probst, the teens also intentionally struck another man on a bike on Fort Apache Road before intentionally hitting a Toyota Corolla on Azure Drive.
The other biker, a 72-year-old man, suffered from non-life-threatening injuries while the driver of the Toyota was not seriously hurt.
The Associated Press reported on Monday that the Clark County District Attorney’s Office filed additional charges against the teens.
District Attorney Steve Wolfson said on Monday that he filed seven additional charges against Ayala, including five felonies and two misdemeanors.
An additional charge of battery with a weapon was filed against Keys.
