:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/GKFY4GX7KYM5STHTCZKFC4N7MU.jpg)
Family, friends and colleagues took the opportunity to bid farewell to Lt. Claire VanLandingham at a small private Memorial service at Recruit Training Command Jan. 10.
VanLandingham, who worked at the USS Osborne Dental Clinic at the Capt. James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center, was killed Jan. 3, shot near her home in Lake Forest. According to Navy record, the Kansas native had reported to Lovell FHCC Aug. 12, 2017 after detaching as a student at Officer Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island Aug. 11.
A dental corps officer, she was commissioned Dec. 9, 2013 and was promoted to lieutenant May 13, 2017.
Lovell FHCC released the following statement shortly after the death: “Lieutenant Claire E. VanLandingham, a Navy officer employed at Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago, Ill., was shot and killed Jan. 3 in Lake Forest, Ill. The loss of our FHCC employee/Navy Shipmate is tragic. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends. The incident is being investigated by Lake Forest Police, the Lake County, Ill. Major Crimes Task Force and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) with Lovell FHCC’s cooperation and assistance.”
Also, U.S. Navy Capt. Bradford L. Smith, Lovell's deputy director and commanding officer, released the following statement "Lt. Claire VanLandingham was a valuable member of an elite team of health care professionals caring for our Navy and Marine recruits at Naval Station Great Lakes. Her untimely death is tragic, and our hearts go out to her
family, friends and coworkers. Our entire command mourns this shocking loss
of one of our own."
According to information released by Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper’s office, VanLandingham died from three gunshot wounds received at about 6:20 a.m. on the 600 block of North Western Avenue in Lake Forest. She was transported to Lake Forest Hospital where she died. Authorities also found Ryan Zike , 33, of Louisville, Kentucky, dead at the scene, caused by a gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation is still open.