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Authorities say Lake Forest double shooting was a murder-suicide

The fatal domestic dispute in Lake Forest this month was a murder-suicide involving a Kentucky man who killed his former girlfriend before shooting himself, authorities said Wednesday.

Ryan Zike, 33, of Louisville, Kentucky and Claire VanLandingham, 27, of Lake Forest, were talking in the parking lot in the 600 block of North Western Avenue at 6:20 a.m. Jan. 3, when Zike pulled out a semi-automatic pistol and fired several shots at VanLandingham, police said in a news release. Zike turned the gun and shot himself in the head, authorities said.

Zike was then struck by a Land Rover Discovery driven by an unidentified 37-year-old Highland Park man. The man was in the parking lot to pick up VanLandingham for work, and drove into Zike out of fear the gunman would turn the weapon on him, police said.

VanLandingham, an active duty member of the United States Navy, was pronounced dead at Lake Forest Hospital. Zike was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Zike and VanLandingham were involved in a prior dating relationship and lived together in the 200 block of Deerpath Road for awhile before the relationship ended in October 2017. Zike then moved to Louisville to live with his family.

Police said Zike drove to Illinois on Jan. 2, and stayed overnight at an unknown location, before confronting VanLandingham the next morning.

The witness, who worked with VanLandingham, was parked in a spot where his headlights illuminated VanLandingham and Zike.

The witness, who is also an active member of the Navy, saw Zike shoot VanLandingham, and told investigators he feared Zike was going to turn the gun on him. He rammed Zike with the Land Rover to avoid being shot.

Police said the man attempted to administer first-aid on Vanlandingham, and summoned help from nearby businesses.

Zike had a valid Kentucky concealed carry gun permit. Police said Zike was armed with a second pistol and a knife in addition to the gun he used to shoot VanLandingham.

Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper said the deaths were a murder-suicide. Cooper previously said VanLandingham died from injuries related to multiple gunshot wounds, and Zike died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Toxicology results are pending on both.

The Lake Forest Police Department is working with the Lake County Major Crime Task Force and Lake County Coroner's Office to assist in the investigation.

Lake Forest shooting victims identified

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