Police seek ‘person of interest' while investigating community leader's murder

ATLANTA — Police need help identifying a man they believe was the last person to see a community leader alive.

Investigators released a photo Monday and a video Tuesday of a man seen with Barney Simms about 30 minutes

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Detectives want to talk to this man to see what he knows.

“This individual, we really need help getting him identified,” said Lt. Charles Hampton of the Atlanta Police Department.

Simms was found shot to death in his yard on Connelly Drive in southwest Atlanta Saturday afternoon.

Investigators say the man in the photo was seen with Simms on Saturday at a Waffle House on Virginia Avenue near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

“At this time we're not sure if he has any involvement in the homicide at all. All we do know is he was last seen with Mr. Simms a little before 2 o’clock,” Hampton said.

Police believe Simms was gunned down around 2:30.

Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell had known Simms for 35 years and appointed him to the liquor license review board in 1994.

“He had a passion for life. He loved his community. He gave so much to this city,” Campbell told Channel 2’s Tom Jones.

Simms' former boss at the Atlanta Housing Authority, Renee Glover, told Jones that Barney was passionate and compassionate about helping those in need.

“Barney served the city so beautifully,” Glover said.

His neighbors wanted the killer to know he took away someone who spent his life improving the lives of others.

“You took a good man away from his family, from this community,” said neighbor Jessica Blue.

Police believe Simms knew the man in the photo. They plan to release video of the man in hopes someone will be able to identify him.

Anyone that recognizes the man is asked to call Atlanta police. The Crime Stoppers reward has been increased to $5,000.

Cox Media Group