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Civilian Employee Of Police Department Gunned Down While Unloading Groceries

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The search is on for three teens brazenly firing guns while riding bicycles, after a man was fatally struck and a second was seriously injured.

John Bucker, a 59-year-old civilian employee of the Chicago Police Department, was unloading groceries from his car Wednesday night outside his Morgan Park home when the shots rang out, CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports.

"My father was a good man. He served his community well. He served his church well. He served his family well," Lakeshia Buckner said.

Police say Buckner was the victim of a random act of violence. Three teens on bicycles zooming down Church Street started shooting.

"They came down and opened fire on anybody who was out here," a witness said.

A 41-one year old man sitting on this porch was hit in the ear seconds before Buckner took a fatal shot to the stomach.

Police were talking to residents, collecting video and searching for the killers of a member of their extended family. Fellow workers from the CPD gathered at a news conference. Buckner spent 25 years in the supply and equipment department. He was known as "Buck."

"It's heartbreaking," Deputy Chief Eugene Roy said. "He's unloading groceries from his car with his family. It's senseless, it's absolutely senseless."

After 25 years with the police department, family members say Buckner was just months away from retiring.

Police are asking the residents to call if they remember seeing three teens on bikes in the area around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

 

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