By Reid Forgrave
Enquirer staff writer

DOWNTOWN - They'd heard about the shooting here the night before, but that didn't stop the Rev. Carl McMullen and his wife, Debra, from enjoying the bright summer sun and pungent barbecue smoke Sunday, the third and final day of the annual Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion.

A group of children walk hand in hand into a tent on the grounds of the Black Family Reunion at Sawyer Point. (Enquirer photo/SARAH CONARD)

The pastor of Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Madisonville and his wife were eager to see the Resurrection Dance Troupe, spiritual dancers from Haiti who performed a story-telling dance at a worship service Sunday afternoon.

The shooting on Saturday evening "kind of came and went," Debra said. "It didn't affect the spirit of what the Black Family Reunion is all about, and that's family. People are still coming in with their families."

Indeed they were. Thousands meandered through Bicentennial Commons at Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove, listening to gospel and rhythm and blues music and browsing the booths of 51 nonprofit organizations, 38 sponsors and dozens of food vendors.

Jaton O'Neal, 26, was shot in the chest Saturday evening near the P&G Pavilion when two groups of young men converged to fight. She had nothing to do with the teens, police said.

Organizers said that though the shooting was a discouraging moment for the event that also experienced a disturbance two years ago, it did not affect the spirit for celebrants. In 2002, about 150 youths leaving the event caused disruptions downtown, leading to nine arrests, including of eight juveniles.

"The people who came down here for a good time had a good time," said Cassandra Robinson, who has organized the Black Family Reunion for 13 of its 16 years. "People came up to me today and told me, 'We're with you. We don't want this to shut down.' You can't allow the actions of a few to impact the majority of people who did enjoy the event."

Robinson didn't know what to expect when she showed up at Sawyer Point at 9 a.m. Sunday.

"If my sponsors and vendors didn't show up, then I knew I had a problem," she said at 6 p.m. Sunday, shortly before the final gospel concert of the event. "But people are still coming in."

She thanked the police department for handling the shooting efficiently and quietly and not causing panic to the thousands of festival-goers. District 1 police commander Capt. James Whalen kept Robinson abreast of what was going on Saturday night and told her about the arrest of a young man on the grounds who was in possession of a firearm. His weapon was not the one used in the shooting, police said.

On Sunday, dozens of police and fire personnel as well as private security officers walked around Sawyer Point.

Before next year's event, Robinson said security could be discussed, but she stressed that the event was adequately staffed with security. The event was equipped with security monitors, but not with metal detectors.

"We don't want to see anybody get hurt," Robinson said. "That part, of course, saddens me. But you can't stop crime if it's going to happen."

The sizes of the crowd on Saturday and Sunday were not noticeably affected by the shooting, said Lt. Anthony Carter, the Cincinnati officer in charge of the event.

Police had not arrested anyone connected with the shooting as of Sunday evening.

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E-mail rforgrave@enquirer.com