Tragedy strikes at Mello Buckzz’s album release party in Chicago as a drive-by shooting leaves 4 dead and 14 injured; investigation is ongoing.
Late on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, a drive-by shooting erupted outside Artis Lounge in Chicago’s River North neighborhood during an album-release party for local rapper Mello Buckzz.
According to police and eyewitnesses, a vehicle pulled up to the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue just after 11 PM and unleashed gunfire into a crowd gathered outside the nightclub.
The attack claimed the lives of four people—two men and two women, all between the ages of 24 and 25—and wounded fourteen others.
Victims ranged in age from 21 to 32, with thirteen women and five men among the casualties.
Three of the injured remain in critical condition: a 24-year-old woman shot in the back, a 25-year-old woman struck in the left leg, and a 21-year-old woman hit in the mouth.
Doowop Being Carried After Wounded Post Mello Buckzz Shooting pic.twitter.com/tvRSiAq52V
— Slime (@FearedSlime) July 3, 2025
No suspects have yet been identified or apprehended.
Authorities believe multiple gunmen may have been involved, and the investigation is ongoing.
Law enforcement has appealed to witnesses and urged anyone with information to come forward.
In the hours following the shooting, Mello Buckzz took to Instagram to express her profound grief.
She revealed that her boyfriend and three of her closest friends were among those killed, lamenting that her “heart broke into so many pieces” and recalling how she held her partner’s hand until the end.
The rapper, known for hits like “Move” and her recently released “HollyHood” EP, has not offered further comment to media outlets but has asked fans for privacy and prayers as she mourns her losses.
This incident underscores the persistent issue of gun violence in Chicago, particularly in areas known for nightlife and entertainment.
It also marks another troubling event in a year already marked by numerous mass-shooting incidents nationwide.
Emergency responders treated the wounded at Northwestern and John H. Stroger hospitals, where several remain under close medical supervision.
As the community reels from this tragedy, investigators continue to sift through video footage, witness statements, and forensic evidence in hopes of identifying the perpetrators and preventing further violence.
