Report: Ex-Braves pitcher involved in accidental shooting that killed coach

Former Braves pitcher Williams Perez.  Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Credit: ccompton@ajc.com

Former Braves pitcher Williams Perez. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Former Braves pitcher Williams Perez was involved in an accidental shooting that killed his pitching coach in Venezuela, according to a sports journalist there.

According to Marcos Grunfield, Perez reportedly was handing a gun he owned to Cesar Quintero when it accidentally discharged. The 26-year-old Perez has been arrested and is  cooperating with the police investigation.

Perez, who was born in  Acarigua, Venezuela, pitched for the Chicago Cubs’ Triple A team in Iowa last season, going 7-10 with a  5.01 ERA.

He pitched for the Braves in 2015 and 2016 and was 9-9 with a 5.18 ERA.

The Braves released Perez after the 2016 season and he signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs.