Staff writer
A LaGrange man remained in serious condition today in a Atlanta hospital after a shooting that wounded him and another man and left a third victim dead.
Kelvin Lovett, 22, of Borton Street, was taken to Atlanta Medical Center after the incident at Super 8 at Lafayette Parkway and 29 Patillo Road on Friday night.
Brian Truitt, 29, of Turner Street died of his injuries at West Georgia Medical Center.
Marced Cotton, 34, of East 12th Street in West Point was taken to Columbus Medical Center and released later that night.
LaGrange police Capt. Mike Pheil said Cotton had outstanding warrants and was arrested shortly after his release from the hospital. Cotton was wanted on charges of entering an automobile with the intent to commit theft, possession of tools for the commission of a crime and second-degree criminal damage to property.
Pheil said the three shooting victims have criminal records, but police believe robbery is the motive for the two metro Atlanta men charged in the shootings.
Police were called to Room 216 of the motel at 9 p.m. Friday and found the three victims in the room with gunshot wounds. Two suspects were reported to have left in an SUV.
Dewayne Stephens, 25, of Riverdale and Malachi Phillips, 28, of Lithonia were stopped in Coweta County at exit No. 47 on Interstate 85 about 30 minutes after the shooting was reported.
The pair were being held in the Troup County Jail and charged with murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault.
Pheil said investigators still want to talk to two witnesses who were near the scene at the motel when shots were fired.
Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.
this isn't a color issue this is a every race issue. I think all young people today need to wake up to whats going on in the world. I also think that we as a people, community need to start redirecting our young people, before this kind of stuff happen. We need to intervene now right now. form groups, walks, churches need to speak, go to the streets, find the young start teaching, don't wait then have something to say.