Four people were killed and 14 others wounded in a mass shooting outside a Chicago nightclub on July 2, 2025, following an album release party for rapper Mello Buckzz. The drive-by shooting occurred around 11 p.m. in the River North neighborhood outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge in the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue.
According to Chicago police, a dark-colored vehicle drove past the building and three people inside fired shots into a crowd standing on the sidewalk. The victims were leaving the venue after attending the private album release party for Mello Buckzz’s new album “Hollyhood.” The crowd ranged in age from 21 to 32 years old, with 13 women and five men struck by gunfire.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased as Leon Andrew Henry, 25; Devonte Terrell Williamson, 23; Taylor Walker, 26; and Aviance King, 27. The two men were taken to Stroger Hospital where they were pronounced dead, while the two women were shot in the chest and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where they also died.
Of the 14 wounded, 11 were women. The injured victims were transported to multiple hospitals, including Illinois Masonic Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Stroger Hospital, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Four victims remained in serious to critical condition following the shooting, with injuries including gunshot wounds to the back, leg, and mouth.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling described the attack as “deplorable and cowardly,” stating that “they didn’t care who was struck, and in a matter of seconds, they were able to shoot 18 people.” Police recovered two different calibers of shell casings at the scene, with investigators believing a rifle may have been used in the attack.
The shooting was determined to be a targeted attack rather than random violence. Snelling indicated that while the venue was targeted, police were still determining who specifically was the intended target. The vehicle fled the scene immediately after the shooting, and no arrests have been made.
Rapper Mello Buckzz, whose real name is Melanie Doyle, posted tributes on social media to those killed, including her boyfriend Williamson. She revealed that many of the injured were her friends and expressed her grief over the attack. The 24-year-old performer had previously appeared at Coachella in 2023 and released viral hits including “Boom (Mouskatool)” and “Boom Pt. 2.”
Pastor Donovan Price, who works with communities affected by violence, arrived at the scene and described it as “absolute chaos.” He noted the mayhem included blood on the streets, people lying on the ground, and a massive police presence. Price indicated that hospitals were almost as chaotic as the crime scene, as people searched for their loved ones.
The same location was previously the site of another mass shooting in November 2022 when it operated as Hush Lounge. That incident resulted in one death and three wounded after a group that had been ejected from the venue began fighting. Police shut down Hush Lounge following that shooting, and Artis Lounge later opened in the same location.
Artis Lounge released a statement indicating the business was created as a safe space for Black, Brown, LGBTQ, and allied communities. The owners expressed that the violence disrupted their mission in the most painful way and confirmed they were working with authorities during the investigation. Chicago officials issued a summary closure of the building, shutting down the business while the investigation continues.
Mayor Brandon Johnson noted that this was not the only mass shooting in Chicago that night, as four people were wounded in another incident early on July 3 in the Riverdale neighborhood. The July 2 shooting occurred just days before the Fourth of July weekend, when Chicago typically sees increased gun violence.
A vigil for victim Taylor Walker was held on July 3 at Chicago Vocational High School on the South Side, where she had studied cosmetology and dance. Her mother, Sharonda Booth, spoke of the loss, and dozens of friends and family members attended, many wearing pink in reference to Walker’s favorite color. Attendees remembered Walker as a skilled hairdresser and dancer who was known for helping others with their problems.
The shooting highlighted ongoing concerns about violence in Chicago, despite overall decreases in gun violence in recent years. Police indicated they were coordinating with local and federal partners to address the possibility of gang-related retaliation and had increased resources throughout the city to prevent further violence. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities search for the three shooters involved in the attack. Cook County Crime Stoppers and CPD have announced a $10,000 reward for information that leads to arrests.
