LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – Gerson Rodriguez made his first court appearance over the weekend, facing charges in the death of Georgia State Patrol trooper Jimmy Cenescar. Rodriguez appeared in Gwinnett County magistrate’s court and was denied bond. He is facing charges including felony murder in connection with Cenescar’s death.
Cenescar died on Jan. 28 after a crash while attempting to stop a motorcycle for a traffic violation on Interstate 85. His vehicle left the road and struck an embankment. Despite emergency personnel’s attempts at life-saving measures, Cenescar passed away at Northside Gwinnett Hospital. Rodriguez was identified as the suspect and was subsequently arrested on Feb. 2 in Norcross.
In addition to the felony murder charge, Rodriguez also faces charges of first-degree homicide, felony fleeing, and attempting to elude police. He is currently being held at the Gwinnett County Jail.
Trooper Cenescar’s funeral is scheduled for Feb. 9. Cenescar had been employed as a trooper since January 2023 and was a graduate of the 114th Trooper School. Before becoming a trooper, he had worked as an officer with the Atlanta Police Department. In October 2021, he was credited with saving the life of a man who had driven his car off a bridge in northwest Atlanta and onto a train track about 50 feet below.
Visitation hours for Cenescar’s funeral will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home in Peachtree Corners.
The funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, at Mount Paran Church in Atlanta, followed immediately by burial at Mount Harmony Memorial Gardens in Mableton.