By Kenneth Thompson

Staff writer

LaGrange Police said today they have no suspects in the Saturday night shooting death of a 20-year-old white male and are awaiting autopsy results.

The body of Matthew Piper of LaGrange was found lying in the street in the 100 block of Mitchell Avenue. Piper had several gunshot wounds in his chest and abdomen and died at the scene shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday.

LaGrange fire and Troup Emergency Management personnel attempted to resuscitate the victim, Detective Mark Cavender said.

“He was unconscious when we first found him and probably already dead,” Cavender said. “A passerby also tried to resuscitate him before fire and emergency personnel arrived.”

Police cited multiple addresses for Piper, but said he was staying with his grandmother in Amberwood Apartments at 815 N. Greenwood St.

“He had been taking care of his grandmother and would also occasionally stay with his mother,” Cavender said. “At this point, we can’t say if he was employed or not for sure.”

Mitchell Street residents and motorists told police they heard gunshots and saw two young black males flee the scene in a white vehicle.

“The witnesses indicated that it possibly was a Toyota made in the 90s,” Cavender said. “But at this point we aren’t completely sure. Also, we can’t rule out that this wasn’t drug related or even a robbery.”

The autopsy on Piper’s body was performed at the state crime lab in Decatur this morning.

No additional details were provided.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Lagrange police at (706) 883-2603 or Crime Stoppers at (706) 812-1000.

Kenneth Thompson can be reached at kethompson@lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311 Ext. 228.