Four dead, fourteen injured in drive-by shooting at Mello Buckzz album launch party in Chicago
A tragic shooting outside a nightclub in Chicago has left four people dead and 14 others injured.
The shooting occurred late Wednesday night, just as guests were leaving a private album launch party for rapper Mello Buckzz. Police confirmed the incident took place around midnight in the city’s River North neighborhood, near Artis Lounge nightclub, located on the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue.
Doowop Being Carried After Wounded Post Mello Buckzz Shooting pic.twitter.com/tvRSiAq52V
The gunfire erupted when three people in a black SUV drove up to the crowd standing outside the venue and opened fire. The suspects fled the scene immediately after the assault, and authorities are still searching for the culprits.
Among the 14 injured, three remain in critical condition, including a 24-year-old woman shot in the back, a 25-year-old with a leg injury, and a 21-year-old woman who was shot in the mouth. The victims ranged in age from 21 to 32, and the dead included two men and two women. Victims were rushed to multiple hospitals, with many taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and John H. Stroger Hospital.
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VIDEO FROM MASS SHOOTING IN CHICAGO EARLIER TONIGHT THAT HAS LED TO 2 DEAD AND 12 People shot
It occurred at the Artis nightclub during the release party for Mello Buckzz pic.twitter.com/m8P7jTGqTDMello Buckzz, who had been celebrating the release of her new album, expressed her devastation on social media. In a heart-wrenching statement, the rapper shared her grief, saying, "I feel like everything just weighing down on me," and added, "Prayers up for all my sisters, God please wrap yo arms around every last one of them."
-Instagram.
-Instagram.
The shooting has left the local community shaken, with Buckzz mourning the loss of her boyfriend and close friends, including two women known on Instagram as "TayyTayy" and @avi_gorgeous. In the hours following the tragedy, Buckzz shared a tribute on Instagram, recounting the moments she spent with her boyfriend, describing how she held his hand until she could no longer.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet identified any suspects. Mello Buckzz's latest EP, HollyHood, was released on Thursday amidst the shock and sadness surrounding the incident.