Police kill gunman outside Athens convenience store

By Joe Johnson

An Athens man is dead following an exchange of gunfire with police officers early Sunday morning outside an eastside Athens convenience store.

Marquavious Sims, 26, was killed after authorities say he threatened people with a what was described as a machine gun.

The incident is being investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which released the following information:

.Preliminary information indicates on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at about 1:20 a.m., a person called 911 to report a man had a “machine gun” out and was waving it around. Responding ACCPD officers saw Sims with the weapon at a Verizon store near the intersection of Lexington Road and Gaines School Road in Athens.  Sims ran across the road and 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 pursing officers. Two officers returned fire, hitting Sims multiple times. Officers provided emergency medical assistance until EMTs arrived. Sims was pronounced dead at a local hospital. 

Sims’ body will be taken to the GBI Crime Lab in Decatur, Georgia for an autopsy.

The GBI will continue to conduct an independent investigation. Once the investigation is complete, it will be given to the Clarke County District Attorney’s Office for review.