A night meant to celebrate music and community turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak as gunmen opened fire outside a Chicago nightclub during an album release party for local rapper Mello Buckzz, leaving four people dead and 14 others injured.
The incident occurred around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge in the River North neighborhood. According to Chicago police, a dark-colored vehicle approached the crowd as guests were leaving the event and unleashed a barrage of gunfire before fleeing the scene.
Among the deceased were two men, aged 24 and 25, and two women, identified as Taylor Walker, 26, and Aviance King, 27. Several of the injured remain in critical condition, with victims ranging in age from 21 to 32.
“This was a senseless and cowardly act of violence,” said Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling during a press briefing. “They didn’t care who was struck. In a matter of seconds, they were able to shoot 18 people, taking four lives.”
Mello Buckzz, whose real name is Melanie Doyle, expressed her devastation on social media, revealing that both her partner and best friend were among those killed. “My heart broke into so many pieces,” she wrote. “I don’t wish this typa pain on nobody.”
The venue, which had only recently opened in April, has since been issued a summary closure order by the city. Notably, the same address previously housed a nightclub shut down in 2022 following another fatal shooting.
Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the attack, calling it “a tragic reminder of how far we still have to go as a city” in the fight against gun violence. Despite recent declines in shootings and homicides, this incident underscores the persistent challenges facing Chicago communities.