By Scottie Brown
The Selma Times-Journal

Lavante Cardell Conn is still on the loose after a shooting that took place on the 2100 block of Forrest Street.

The Selma Police Department is asking the community to come forward with any helpful information.

Conn, 20, is 6 feet tall, 250 pounds and reportedly has a small twist hairstyle. He is believed to be armed and dangerous.

“If anyone were to encounter him, use extreme caution and notify local enforcement immediately,” said Selma police investigator Lt. Curtis Muhannad.

Warrants were issued for Conn following in late April for two counts of attempted murder and one count of first-degree robbery.

In a news release, Muhannad said Conn approached two men sitting together in a parked vehicle and told them to hand over everything they had.

In the release, Muhannad said a struggle ensued, during which Conn shot the victim in the back and stole a bag containing what authorities believe to be marijuana.

The driver was shot three times before being able to take back the stolen item and wrestle the Taurus .38 Special handgun away from Conn, which was out of ammunition at that time.

Muhannad said the U.S. Marshals Service has been called in to help because Conn could have fled the area.

He said there is a strong possibility that Conn could be in Chicago; however, there is still a need for people to step forward with information.

“We know that he has family in Chicago,” Muhannad said, adding one of Conn’s aliases is “Chi-Town.”

Muhannad said the victims in the case have not provided the help the department had wanted, but a witness has provided valuable information.

“The victims were not cooperative,” Muhannad said. “But we had a witness who actually saw the incident unfold, so that’s how we’ve been able to identify Lavante Conn as the offender and to also determine what occurred during the robbery.”

Muhannad said information has been difficult to acquire because some people in the community are worried about retribution.

“There is a fear factor in the community because of the level of violence these people are capable of,” Muhannad said. “The community tends to not want to get directly involved.”

While anonymous tips and Crime Stoppers have been productive in the past, Muhannad said callers often do not give all the information needed to find a suspect or build a case.

“We can’t just make a case off of names,” Muhannad said. “We’ve got to have evidence to back up, that puts those people on the scene. Right now, that’s what we’re running in to.”

Anyone with information pertaining to Conn’s whereabouts or any other criminal investigation should call Crime Stoppers at 877-3530 or 866-44-CRIME.