The former player accused of killing Aplington-Parkersburg High School football coach Ed Thomas is expected to make his first court appearance next week.
Trial information filed late Tuesday in Butler County District Court formally charges Mark Becker with first-degree murder in the June 24th shooting death of Thomas.
Court documents also show that Becker is charged with eluding police in connection with a chase that followed an incident in Cedar Falls on June 20th. Judge Stephen Carroll set Becker’s arraignment on the two charges for 9:30 A.M. Tuesday at the district’s courtroom in Allison.
The judge also continued Becker’s one million dollar bond. Because of the written charges filed Tuesday, a preliminary hearing for Becker scheduled to be held Thursday morning will not occur. Authorities allege Becker shot Thomas multiple times in the high school weight room in front of about 20 students. Investigators have not said publicly if they’ve determined a motive for the murder.