Authorities seek suspect in shooting

1/22/2005

Toledo police are seeking information through the Crime Stopper program on the whereabouts of a South Toledo man charged in the Dec. 26 shooting of a local environmental activist and former City Council candidate.

David C. Conley, 21, of 2649 Eastgate Rd., Apt. 3, was charged with felonious assault and aggravated robbery in arrest warrants filed Jan. 7 in Toledo Municipal Court. He is accused of shooting Rick VanLandingham, 35, who was treated at the Medical College of Ohio Hospitals.

Mr. VanLandingham said he drove to South Toledo to retrieve a cell phone for a friend and was greeted behind an apartment building on Eastgate by a man he thought was pulling out the phone to give him. Instead, the man demanded anything he had and shot him.

Anyone with information on the suspect's whereabouts is asked to call the Crime Stopper program. Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.