A 59-year-old civilian employee of the Chicago Police Department was shot to death in front of his family Wednesday night in the Morgan Park neighborhood on the far South Side.
John W. Buckner was unloading groceries from his car near his home in the 11500 block of South Church about 8:45 p.m. when three males rode by on bicycles opened fire along the block, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
He was with his wife and grandson at the time of the shooting, standing next to the new car he had just purchased for himself the day prior.
Buckner was shot in the abdomen, and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 10:25 p.m., authorities said.
Buckner was a civilian employee of the CPD was assigned to the general support division, according to police. He had worked for the department for 25 years.
Another man, 41, was standing on a front porch on the same block when he was struck by gunfire. He taken to Christ Medical Center, where he was listed in serious condition, police said. Buckner and the man weren’t together at the time the shooting and were randomly struck by the shots.
Police said neither man was the intended victim of the shooting. Area South detectives are investigating.
