Man killed in shootout with Athens police

Photo byNowHabersham.com

Two Athens police officers shot and killed a man Sunday after the man fired on them outside a convenience store, according to a statement from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI identified the suspect as 26-year-old Marquavious Sims.

The GBI said Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) officers responded to a 911 call around 1:20 a.m. on August 11. The caller reported a man had a “machine gun” out and was waving it around.

According to the GBI’s preliminary investigation, the officers saw Sims with the weapon at a Verizon store near the intersection of Lexington Road and Gaines School Road. He then ran across the road into the parking lot of a Quick Trip gas station.

“Officers chased Sims and repeatedly shouted for him to drop the gun. At one point, Sims turned and fired the gun at the pursuing officers,” says GBI Public Affairs Director Nelly Miles. Two officers returned fire, hitting Sims multiple times.

Miles says officers provided emergency medical assistance until EMTs arrived. Sims was pronounced dead at a local hospital.​

Sim’s body will be sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur for an autopsy.

The GBI is investigating the shooting, which is standard protocol. The police department will place the officers on administrative leave pending the outcome of that investigation, says ACCPD Public Information Officer Lt. Jody Thompson.

Once the GBI’s investigation is complete, the agency will submit its findings to the Clarke County District Attorney’s Office for review.

According to GBI records, this is the 49th officer-involved shooting in Georgia this year.