Gregory Favors, previously arrested 18 times, has been formally indicted in the murder of George State Trooper Chadwick LeCroy on Friday.
Prosecutors will next meet with the victim's family before determining whether to seek the death penalty.
A Fulton County grand jury charged the 30-year-old with murder, two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault on a peace officer, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fleeing and attempting to elude.
LeCroy, 38, was shot and killed on Dec. 27 after attempting to stop Favors for a broken taillight. The defendant fled from the trooper before crashing his car near the intersection of Hightower Road and St. Paul Avenue in Atlanta. As Trooper LeCroy approached the wrecked vehicle, Favors shot him in the neck then took the trooper's car before abandoning it a few blocks away. He was arrested soon after by Atlanta and Cobb police.
It marked Favors' third arrest in 2010 -- and 19th overall -- though he's spent little time in jail. That cast a harsh spotlight on Fulton Court's "rocket docket" system that puts most nonviolent felony cases, like Favors' previous arrests, on a fast-track toward disposition. The court announced last week that elected Superior Court judges will begin presiding over cases and supervising the system.
Legislation named after the slain trooper was also filed to make it harder for some offenders to be released without posting bond
Favors' case has been assigned to a Fulton County Superior Court judge and will be scheduled for trial.
