A Coweta man has died in an accidental shooting, police said Tuesday.

John Sims, 50, was going to a barn on his property on Luther Bailey Road on Monday, the Coweta County Sheriff's Office said. Sims was carrying a shotgun for hunting squirrels. He had his grandchildren with him, police said.

At one point Sims placed the gun against the side of a building. When the shotgun began to slide to the ground, Sims reached for the weapon and grabbed it. The gun fired, hitting Sims in the chest, said Maj. James Yarborough of the sheriff's office.

Sims was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

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