An officer-involved shooting that led to the death of 26-year-old Marquavious Sims in Athens, Georgia is currently under investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), at the behest of the local police department. The incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday when authorities responded to a 911 call alerting them of a man brandishing what was described as a "machine gun," as per the GBI press release.
The Athens-Clarke County Police Department (ACCPD) reports that officers arrived at a Verizon store located at the junction of Lexington Road and Gaines School Road, where they encountered Sims armed. The confrontation saw Sims flee across the road to a Quick Trip gas station, where police gave chase, demanding that he drop the weapon. In a volatile turn of events, Sims reportedly fired at the pursuing officers, prompting two of them to shoot back, striking Sims multiple times. These details on the incident were provided in a press release from the GBI.
Despite efforts to render medical aid at the scene, Sims succumbed to his injuries after being transported to a local hospital. The GBI has confirmed that Sims' body will be sent to their Decatur Crime Lab for an autopsy, as part of the investigative process. No officers were reported injured during the shootout.
The independent investigation into the shooting is currently underway by the GBI. Following the investigation's conclusion, the findings will be turned over to the Clarke County District Attorney's Office for further review and determination of the next steps.
