A man was killed and three other people were wounded in a shooting at an annual reunion picnic in the Far South Side ‘ Morgan Park neighborhood Saturday night. Police say David Buckner, 47, was among many other people at Ada Park picnicking when members of two rival gangs opened fire at each other. Investigators believe Buckner, of the 600 block of East 89th Street, was an innocent bystander. About 8 p.m., police found Buckner fatally shot in his back in the 11200 block of South Ada Street, according to a release from police News Affairs. In addition to Buckner, a 37-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his leg, a 19-year-old man got a graze wound to his neck and a 22-year-old woman was shot in her thigh, the release said. They were taken to local hospitals and were all treated and released. No one was in custody and Calumet Area detectives are investigating. Neighbors in the area said people were out for the Roots fest, an annual reunion for current and past residents of Morgan Park . Janita Walton was at the park Saturday night when about seven shots rang out and parkgoers immediately scattered, grabbing their belongings as they went, she said. It didn’t seem like those shot had anything to do with the gang dispute that precipitated the gunfire, she added. “Nothing like this has ever happened at this event, ever,” said Walton, 28. “It’s been going on for more than 30 years.” Friends said Buckner had lived in Morgan Park at some time in the past, but in recent years lived in several miles to the northeast, in the Burnside neighborhood. He was known as friendly, helpful neighbor who often mowed lawns for older residents on the block. “He was probably trying to help somebody at the park when he got shot,” said Barbara Duke, Buckner’s neighbor across the street. She said Buckner worked as a manager at a supermarket on the North Side and recently had enrolled in college in hopes of becoming a teacher, instructing students in business administration. “He was such a sweet guy. He was the nicest guy in the world,” Duke said. “My heart is heavy.” — Joel Hood and Carolyn Kyungae Smith

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Police: Man killed in Ada Park was bystander