COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Latest on a Columbus SWAT officer who died after being shot while trying to serve an arrest warrant (all times local):

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6 p.m.

Authorities say the man accused in the slaying of a Columbus SWAT officer has now been charged with aggravated murder.

The upgraded charge against defendant Lincoln Rutledge follows Tuesday's death of Columbus officer Steven Smith.

The 44-year-old Rutledge is being held without bond and also faces charges of felonious assault and aggravated arson.

The aggravated murder charged filed in Franklin County Municipal Court Thursday is preliminary while an investigation into Smith's death continues.

Rutledge will likely face more formal charges once an indictment is handed down.

Smith was shot in the head early Sunday while officers tried to arrest Rutledge on the arson charge.

Rutledge's public defender is not commenting.

Columbus police chief Kim Jacobs remembered the 54-year-old Smith Thursday as someone who lived to serve others.

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2:30 p.m.

The suspect in the death of an Ohio police officer has given up his right to an initial court hearing.

The decision Thursday by Lincoln Rutledge means the state now has nearly two months before an indictment must be issued.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien says the extra time allows both sides to research the case and for Rutledge's attorneys to argue against making the indictment a death penalty case. Ohio law includes killing a police officer as a factor that can lead to capital punishment.

A message was left with the public defender's office representing the 44-year-old Rutledge.

Earlier Thursday, dozens of police cruisers escorted slain Columbus SWAT officer Steven Smith's body to a funeral home. Smith died Tuesday, two days after being shot.

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1:15 p.m.

A law enforcement procession in Ohio's capital city has escorted the body of a slain police officer to a funeral home.

Columbus officer Steven M. Smith died Tuesday after he was critically wounded when a man opened fire on a SWAT team trying to arrest him two days earlier.

Police say 44-year-old Columbus resident Lincoln Rutledge shot Smith and held police at bay for several hours on Sunday.

Rutledge has been denied bond and remains jailed on charges including felonious assault.

A Thursday procession including police cruisers and officers on horseback escorted Smith's body from the Franklin County coroner's office to a downtown funeral home.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien says charges against Rutledge could carry the death penalty because of the officer's death.

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9:55 a.m.

A procession is planned in Ohio's capital city to escort the body of a slain police officer to a funeral home.

Columbus officer Steven M. Smith died Tuesday after he was critically wounded when a man opened fire on a SWAT team trying to arrest him two days earlier.

Police say 44-year-old Columbus resident Lincoln Rutledge shot Smith and held police at bay for several hours on Sunday.

Rutledge has been denied bond and remains jailed on charges including felonious assault.

A Thursday procession including police cruisers and officers on horseback planned to escort Smith's body from the Franklin County coroner's office to a downtown funeral home.

Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien says charges against Rutledge could carry the death penalty because of the officer's death.

News from © The Associated Press, 2016