Ex-NBA Player Crittenton in Georgia on Murder Charge

Former professional basketball player Javaris Crittenton waived his right on Friday to appear before a magistrate judge in Georgia on a murder charge in the drive-by shooting death of a young mother of four.

Crittenton, 23, was arrested at a Southern California airport last month as he prepared to check in for a flight to Atlanta to turn himself in to authorities.

He is accused of the August 19 slaying of 22-year-old Julian Jones, who witnesses said was gunned down in Atlanta with an assault rifle by someone driving a dark-colored sport utility vehicle, according to the FBI.

Atlanta police have said they do not believe Jones was Crittenton's intended victim but would not elaborate on the case.

Jailed in Los Angeles on a charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, Crittenton waived his right to challenge extradition and was transferred back to Atlanta on Thursday.

He remains jailed and is scheduled to have a bond hearing and arraignment on September 30, said Tracy Flanagan, spokeswoman for the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

Crittenton was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007 and played two seasons in the National Basketball Association, ending his career with the Washington Wizards after a stint in Memphis, according to the league website. He played college basketball at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

In January 2010, the NBA suspended Crittenton and Wizards teammate Gilbert Arenas without pay for the rest of the season for bringing guns into the locker room after a dispute over a poker game on a flight home from a game.

Crittenton pleaded guilty to a criminal charge and received one year of probation over that incident.