Four dead, fourteen injured in mass shooting outside Chicago nightclub
By Easton Martin | July 3, 2025
CHICAGO — Four people were killed and fourteen others injured late Wednesday night in a mass shooting outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, police confirmed.
The incident occurred around 11 p.m. as guests were leaving an album release party. A dark-colored vehicle pulled up and multiple shooters opened fire into the crowd before fleeing the scene. Shell casings from both handguns and rifles were recovered.
The deceased include two men, ages 24 and 25, and two women, ages 26 and 27. The injured include thirteen women and five men between the ages of 21 and 32. Several remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Authorities believe rapper Mello Buckzz may have been the intended target, though she had already left the area when the shooting took place. In a social media post, she confirmed that both her boyfriend and a close friend were among the dead.
No suspects have been arrested. Chicago police are reviewing surveillance footage and asking the public for tips. The motive remains under investigation.
The location has a history of violence. In 2022, a shooting outside the same address (then operating under a different name) prompted a temporary closure by the city. Artis Lounge opened in April of this year.
The attack comes days before the Fourth of July weekend, a period that traditionally sees a rise in gun violence across Chicago. City officials have announced plans to increase police presence throughout the weekend.
