Photo Credit: NBC 5 Chicago
A drive-by shooting outside a Chicago lounge leaves four dead and 14 injured as a crowd gathered following an album release party.
Four people were killed and at least 14 were injured in a mass shooting outside a downtown Chicago bar and restaurant. On Wednesday night, a black car pulled up outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge, when at least one person in the car opened fire on a crowd of people gathered around 11 PM, police said. The restaurant is the same location of a nightclub the city shut down a few years ago, after another shooting took place outside.
Fans were gathered outside following an album release party for drill rapper Mello Buckzz. Police believe the intended target of the attack was likely the rapper, although officials say she had already left the venue when the shooting occurred. Handgun and rifle rounds were recovered, while several shell casings were seen both inside and outside the lounge.
Sources say the black Honda Accord circled the club to see who was there, before coming back around and firing shots. The car then sped away to the east.
A 24-year-old man was shot in the chest, while a 25-year-old man was shot in the head. Both victims were pronounced dead after they were taken to the hospital. Two women were also fatally shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the hospital.
Four women are also in critical condition: a 31-year-old who suffered multiple shots, a 24-year-old shot in the back, a 25-year-old shot in the leg, and a 21-year-old shot in the face. Ten others between the ages of 24 to 32 are in good condition, all at nearby hospitals.
Another mass shooting happened at the same address in 2022, when one person was killed and three were injured outside the former Hush Chicago nightclub. Chicago officials shut down the club afterward, deeming it a “public safety threat.”
The Artis Restaurant and Lounge opened in April. “Artis was created as a safe space,” reads a statement from restaurant owners on social media. “A space where Black, Brown, Queer, and allied communities could gather, be celebrated, and feel at home in River North. We’ve always led with that mission. And what happened last night disrupted it in the most painful way.”
No arrests have been made thus far.
