The viral video of two teens on a murderous joy ride in Las Vegas last month sparked conversations on social media about the assailants’ races. Now, the speculation can be put to rest as the teens have been identified as an Hispanic driver and a Black passenger.
Here’s the story generated by Discern Reporter, followed by my commentary…
Teens Appear in Court Following Heinous Viral Video Leading to Arrests
According to sources, two teenagers from Las Vegas have been accused of intentionally hitting and killing a cyclist. Allegedly, within a two-hour span, they also attempted to kill another biker, stole three cars, and committed a burglary, as revealed to the 8 News Now Investigators.
Records show that Jesus Ayala, who is now 18 but was 17 at the time of the alleged crime spree, is facing 18 charges, including murder, attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon, leaving the scene of an accident, and various larceny and burglary charges. The second suspect, Jzamir Keys, 16, is also facing charges of murder, attempted murder, and battery, identified by police as the passenger in the vehicle.
The charges against Ayala and Keys are related to the death of Andreas “Andy” Probst, a retired California police chief. Probst was riding his bicycle in a marked lane on August 14 near Tenaya Way and Centennial Parkway in the northwest Las Vegas valley when Ayala allegedly intentionally crashed into him.
Initially, Probst’s death was classified as a hit-and-run. However, at the end of August, a student brought a video of the alleged murder to a school resource officer who then alerted the police about it.
Ayala was taken into custody on the morning of the hit-and-run incident, while Keys was arrested on Tuesday. Both were later certified as adults in the court system.
Sources informed the 8 News Now Investigators that the stolen car allegedly used by Ayala and Keys to murder Probst was found abandoned near Craig Road and Jones Boulevard, less than 10 minutes from the crash site. The vehicle had blood on its windshield.
Before Probst’s murder, the teenagers reportedly attempted to hit another cyclist in the area of Fort Apache and Washburn Roads, about half an hour earlier, according to the police. After Probst’s death, they allegedly stole two more cars in the area of Lake Mead Boulevard and Torrey Pines Drive. Approximately an hour later, the teenagers crashed the two stolen cars into each other near a shopping plaza at Lake Mead and Rainbow Boulevards, as per sources.
Allegedly, the teenagers then broke into a garage, taking several items, before returning to the area where Probst was hit and killed in one of the crashed stolen cars.
While Ayala was apprehended by the officers, Keys managed to flee the scene.
Back in August, the police did not have sufficient evidence to charge Ayala with murder, as the video did not surface until two weeks later.
Both teenagers made their initial appearances in adult court on Thursday.
Commentary: Growing Teen Nihilism
“They don’t care,” my adult son told me. “They just don’t have any regard for life, property, or consequences of desecrating either.”
He was referring to what seems to be an exponentially growing threat from nihilistic teens and young adults in America. I often lean on my son for understanding of youth since he is a millennial. And as he sees it, Gen Z is better than his generation in some ways but far worse in others.
Anecdotally, he is absolutely correct. We’re seeing statistics claiming more Gen Zers are leaning conservative than their millennial predecessors, but we’re also watching teen and young adult crime rising dramatically in nearly every major city in America. And contrary to popular belief from the right, it’s not just blue cities that are getting hit. While Democrat policies have exacerbated the trend, even cities that lean red are seeing crime rates rise.
As far as I’m concerned, the only thing that can reverse the course of this nation is massive revival. I know that’s arguably the answer to all of our major problems to the point that it’s almost cliche, but it’s undeniable to those of us who are emersed in the news throughout the day. Kids like the ones who casually murdered Andy Probst are not going away through counseling, more money funneled into education, or political solutions.
Only God can change hearts and minds on the massive scale that we need right now.
Sound off about this story on The Liberty Daily Substack.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
