Close Up Shot Focused on Yellow Tape Showing Text Police Line Do Not Cross. Restricted Area of a Crime Scene. Bokeh Background with Flickering Siren Lights. Forensics Team Working on a Case
Chicago, IL – Tragedy struck the River North neighborhood late Wednesday night when a drive-by mass shooting claimed the lives of four people and left at least 14 others wounded outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge, a popular nightlife venue.
The horrific act of violence occurred shortly after 11 p.m. outside the establishment on the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue, as patrons exited the club following an album release party for local rapper Mello Buckzz.
According to Chicago Police, a dark vehicle drove past the crowd gathered on the sidewalk outside the lounge. In a calculated and targeted assault, three individuals inside the vehicle opened fire, discharging rounds into the crowd.
Police Superintendent Larry Snelling stated that the attackers displayed no regard for human life: “They didn’t care who was struck. In a matter of seconds, they were able to shoot 18 people.”
Among the victims, 25-year-old Leon Andrew Henry and 23-year-old Devonte Terrell Williamson were transported to Stroger Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
Two women, ages 26 and 27, were also fatally shot in the chest and succumbed to their injuries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. One of the victims, Aviance King, was identified by her sister Shaniah Battle, who was among the wounded.
The injured victims, ranging in age from 21 to 32, were taken to four different hospitals: Illinois Masonic, Mt. Sinai, Stroger, and Northwestern Memorial, with conditions ranging from good to critical. Four individuals remain in serious to critical condition.
Superintendent Snelling confirmed that police suspect the shooting was a targeted attack, possibly involving individuals within the rapper’s inner circle. Authorities are exploring the possibility that a rifle was used, as two different calibers of shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Snelling refrained from confirming any gang connections but emphasized that retaliation is a concern, and coordination is underway with federal partners to prepare for any follow-up violence.
“This kind of violence will not be tolerated,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson, who vowed to deploy additional resources to keep the city safe. “We will not rest until there is full accountability. I urge anyone with information to come forward.”
The shooting prompted the city to issue a summary closure of Artis Lounge while the investigation into the incident—and the venue itself—continues. Authorities noted that the same block was the site of a November 2022 mass shooting when the venue operated under the name Hush Lounge. That incident left one person dead and three others wounded, resulting in the Hush nightclub’s closure. Artis Lounge later opened in the same location.
In a heartfelt statement, Artis Lounge said:
“Last night, an act of violence occurred within the vicinity of our restaurant and it deeply shook us. Artis was created as a safe space—a space where Black, Brown, Queer, and allied communities could gather, be celebrated, and feel at home. What happened disrupted that in the most painful way. Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones.”
Rapper Mello Buckzz, who hosted the event, shared emotional tributes on social media, mourning her boyfriend Williamson, and others lost. “My handsomeeee man,” she wrote under a photo of the two. She also posted about King and another woman, known as Taylor, adding, “We were having so much fun in our private little life. Couldn’t leave each other alone.”
In the aftermath, violence interrupters and community leaders gathered outside the lounge, distributing flyers and encouraging community members to share any information. Pastor Donovan Price, who was present at the chaotic scene, described it as the worst violence he had ever witnessed:
“People were trying to find their loved ones, couldn’t find their phones, their keys… This was like nothing else we’ve seen.”
As of Thursday evening, no arrests have been made, but police believe three shooters were involved. The investigation remains ongoing.
This senseless act has left a deep scar on the River North neighborhood and the broader Chicago community, as families grieve, and a city once again reels from the trauma of mass gun violence.
