GA Trooper Death: Suspect Indicted On Murder Charges In Fatal Crash

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — A 21-year-old man has been indicted in connection with the Jan. 28 crash that killed a Georgia state trooper, Gwinnett County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson's office said Thursday.

The district attorney's office said Gerson Danilo Ayala-Rodriguez was charged on suspicion of felony murder in connection with the crash that killed Georgia State Patrol trooper Jimmy Cenescar.

Additionally, the district attorney's office said Ayala-Rodriguez was charged on suspicion of:

• First-degree vehicular homicide
• Tampering with evidence
• Three counts of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer
• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Two counts of driving without a license
• Operating a vehicle without insurance
• Operating an unregistered vehicle

A Gwinnett County grand jury indicted Ayala-Rodriguez on Wednesday, the district attorney's office said.

Cenescar, 28, was attempting to pull over a motorcycle for a traffic violation around 5:30 p.m., when his vehicle left the road and hit an embankment, authorities previously said. He was on Interstate 85 south near Old Peachtree Road.

RELATED: Georgia Trooper Killed In On-Duty I-85 Crash

His patrol vehicle hit trees, shrubbery, a street sign and a retaining wall, the district attorney's office said.

Emergency medical personnel tried to save Cenescar's life, but he later died at Northside Gwinnett Hospital, authorities previously said.

Ayala-Rodriguez was arrested in early February in Norcross in connection with Cenescar's death, authorities previously said.

He was accused of speedily driving a Honda motorcycle; and when, Cenescar activated his blue lights, the district attorney's office said Ayala-Rodriguez continued to weave in and out of traffic.

Ayala-Rodriguez fled from Cenescar, eventually reaching 140 mph and splitting lanes to pass vehicles, the district attorney's office said.

"Cenescar had to take evasive action to avoid hitting civilian vehicles and lost control of his patrol car," read Austin-Gatson's news release.

RELATED: Suspect Arrested In Death Of GA Trooper Killed During I-85 N Chase

After heading to the right, the patrol car went over the east shoulder of I-85 and hit a guardrail before traveling down the embankment, the district attorney's office said. Cenescar's funeral was held in February.

Ayala-Rodriguez was accused of later destroying the motorcycle's license plate. He is currently being held in the Gwinnett County Jail without bond and awaiting trial, the district attorney's office said.

“This was inexcusable, and we intend to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law," Austin-Gatson said in the release.