Mass Shooting at Chicago Album Release Party Leaves Four Dead, 14 Injured

A drive-by shooting outside a Chicago nightclub resulted in four fatalities and 14 injuries, according to authorities. The incident occurred near the Artis Lounge in the River North neighborhood, where a release party for Chicago rapper Mello Buckzz's new album, "Hollyhood," had just concluded.

Guests exiting the venue were targeted by gunfire around 11 p.m. on Wednesday night. Two men, aged 24 and 25, and two women were pronounced dead at the scene. Additionally, 14 other individuals sustained gunshot wounds, with three of them in critical condition. The vehicle involved in the shooting immediately fled the area, and no arrests had been made as of Thursday morning.

The shooting took place as attendees were leaving the album release party. The suspect, or suspects, opened fire on the group on the sidewalk on the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue. Mello Buckzz, whose real name is Melanie Doyle, expressed her grief on social media, sharing her sorrow and seeking prayers for the victims.

The Artis Lounge is located in the same space as the former Hush nightclub, which had closed after a previous fatal shooting. The victims included two men and two women. One of the female victims was identified as 26-year-old Taylor Walker. The ages of the other victims were not immediately released.

Police reported that the majority of the victims, at least 16 out of 18, were between the ages of 21 and 32. Among those shot were five men and 13 women. Three victims remained in critical condition, including a 21-year-old woman shot in the mouth, and two 24-year-old women shot in the leg and back, respectively.

Witnesses described the chaotic scene following the shooting. One witness reported hearing gunfire and seeing a large police and emergency response. Pastor Donovan Price described the scene as "absolute chaos," with people screaming and blood on the streets.

As of Thursday morning, Chicago police had not publicly identified a suspect. Preliminary investigations indicated that the shooter, or shooters, were in a dark-colored car. The motive behind the attack remained unknown.

Despite ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime, gun violence remains a significant issue in Chicago. While there has been a decrease in murders and shooting incidents this year, the city continues to grapple with the impact of gun violence.