ATHENS, GA – A 26-year-old man was fatally shot by police officers early Sunday morning in Athens, Georgia. Marquavious Sims, the deceased, was reportedly brandishing a firearm near a gas station, creating panic among locals.
The events transpired when Athens-Clarke County Police responded to a call around 1:20 a.m., bringing them to a location near the intersection of Lexington Road and Gaines School Road. The caller reported a man menacingly waving around what they described as a “machine gun.”
Upon their arrival on the scene, officers found Sims in the vicinity of a Verizon store. He made a run for it, heading across to the parking lot of a nearby QuickTrip gas station and initiating a high-stakes chase.
Officers pursued Sims, repeatedly instructing him to drop his firearm. However, during the tense chase, Sims reportedly turned the gun on the officers. His actions prompted two of the officers to return fire, hitting Sims multiple times.
The officers then administered immediate medical assistance to Sims, maintaining the effort until emergency medical technicians arrived. Sims was then quickly transported to a local hospital, where, sadly, he was pronounced dead.
None of the officers who were involved in the shooting incident reported any injuries. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to undertake an inquiry into the incident.
Pending the conclusion of the GBI’s investigation, the two officers who fired at Sims have been placed on administrative leave. Sims’ body will be sent to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur, Georgia, for autopsy.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be referred to the Clarke County District Attorney’s Office for review.