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The Chicago Cubs have released right-handed pitcher Williams Perez, who was arrested in Venezuela earlier in February, when he accidentally shot and killed a pitching coach.
Here are the few details available from the incident via Yahoo! Sports.
According to reports out of Portuguesa, Venezuela, Perez was handing the gun to Quintero, 52, when it accidentally discharged. The initial report said that no foul play was suspected. It was later reported that the 26-year-old Perez had been arrested and was cooperating with the police investigation.
Perez, 26, was the owner of the gun and had a permit to carry according to the police. The man who was killed, Cesar Quintero, was 52.
Perez was on a minor-league contract with the Cubs and pitched at Triple-A Iowa in 2017. On Sunday, the organization released Perez according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.
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Cubs RHP Williams Perez released from minor league contract.
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) February 18, 2018
The 26-year-old pitcher was slated to join the Cubs in Mesa as a non-roster invitee this spring training before the incident. In 2017, Perez made 23 starts with the Iowa Cubs, going 7-10, with a 5.01 ERA. He previously pitched for the Atlanta Braves, making his MLB debut in 2015. In two major league seasons, Perez had a 5.18 ERA in 170.1 innings.
There is still no word on the fallout of the investigation, but Perez has been cooperating with the authorities.
