Suspect Identified in Killing of Georgia State Trooper

Last Updated On: 12/29/2010 12:59:38 AM

Ed. Note: An account has been established for anyone who would like to make a donation to benefit the family of Georgia State Patrol Trooper Chadwick LeCroy:

DPS Credit Union

P.O. Bos 1456

Atlanta, GA 30371

404-624-7790

Make checks payable to the LeCroy Family Benefit Fund

__________

ATLANTA - A series of old mugshots of murder suspect Gregory Favors, dating back to 1999, was released Tuesday afternoon, showing his life of crime since the age of 19. Investigators said that it was Gregory Favors, with 19 arrests since 1999 on various criminal offenses, who shot and killed Georgia State Trooper Chadwick LeCroy Monday night in Northwest Atlanta -- two weeks after Favors' latest arrest and release from jail.

At around 11pm Monday, on Bolton Road near James Jackson Parkway, LeCroy tried to stop a car that had a broken headlight.

A spokesman for the State Patrol said the driver sped away and Trooper LeCroy chased the car, a 2007 Mazda, to the intersection of St. Paul Avenue and Hightower Road. That's where the Mazda crashed. According to the State Patrol, the driver then shot at Trooper LeCroy three times. One of the bullets struck LeCroy.

The State Patrol said the driver left LeCroy, and drove away in the LeCroy's patrol car.

A short time later, according to the State Patrol, the patrol car and the gun were found on Gun Club Drive by Atlanta Police, and with the assistance of Cobb County Police, a suspect was taken into custody.

Trooper LeCroy died while being rushed to Grady Hospital.

It turns out that Favors' most recent arrest, until his arrest in this case, was on December 11, 2010. According to records at the Fulton County Jail, Favors was charged that day with obstruction of a law officer, criminal attempt to enter an auto, possession of tools for commission of a crime, and possession of cocaine. He was released from jail on December 14, 2010, on a signature bond.

Trooper First Class Chad LeCroy, 38, of Marietta, was living a lifelong dream of being a law officer, according to family members. And a friend, a fellow trooper, told 11Alive News that LeCroy was known and loved for "his sense of humor.... Everything he did he did with a smile on his face.... He worked hard, loved life and lived life to the fullest."

LeCroy had been working in his father's construction company. He joined the State Patrol in January, 2008, and graduated from the 85th Georgia State Patrol Trooper School in August 2008.

He was stationed in Cartersville until he was transferred to Post 48 at Fulton County Airport, Charlie Brown Field, in Atlanta in March 2010.

State Patrol officials said LeCroy is the 27th trooper to be killed in the line of duty since the Georgia State Patrol was organized in 1937. He is the first trooper to be killed by gunfire since May 1975.

Flags at all Department of Public Safety facilities will be lowered to half-staff through the time of LeCroy's funeral. Funeral arrangements are not yet complete.

LeCroy is survived by his wife, and two sons ages 8 and 21.

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story ... 3&catid=40