Chicago Shooting : 4 Dead, 14 Wounded in Targeted Drive-By Attack After Rapper’s Album Release Party
CHICAGO — A warm summer night celebrating art and music dissolved into terror Wednesday when gunmen in a speeding vehicle unleashed a hail of bullets into a crowd exiting a downtown Chicago restaurant, killing four people and wounding fourteen others in one of the city’s deadliest mass shootings this year.
The Attack: “A War Zone”
Just before 11 p.m. on July 2, a dark-colored SUV drove past Artis Restaurant and Lounge in the bustling River North neighborhood.
As patrons spilled onto the sidewalk following an album release party for local rapper Mello Buckzz (born Melanie Doyle), multiple shooters inside the vehicle opened fire.
Within seconds, 18 people lay bleeding on the pavement amid screams and chaos.
“I can only describe it as a war zone,” said Pastor Donovan Price, a crisis responder who arrived minutes later. “Mayhem, blood, screaming, and confusion. People were searching for friends, phones, car keys—anything to make sense of the horror. It’s the worst I’ve seen in this city”
The Victims: Dreams Cut Short
The Cook County Medical Examiner identified the four fatalities:
- Leon Andrew Henry, 25, shot in the head
- Devonte Terrell Williamson, 23, Mello Buckzz’s boyfriend, shot in the chest
- Taylor Walker, 26, shot in the chest
- Aviance King, 27, shot in the chest
King’s sister, Shaniah Battle, was among the 14 wounded. Henry’s grandmother tearfully recalled he had left home without mentioning the party—a decision that cost his life.
The injured, ranging from 21 to 32 years old, included 11 women. Four remained in critical condition Thursday, including a 21-year-old woman shot in the face and a 24-year-old woman shot in the back.
Investigation: Targeted and Premeditated
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling confirmed the attack was deliberate. “They didn’t care who was struck, but clearly, someone was targeted. This wasn’t random,” he stated.
Evidence suggests three shooters used at least two weapons—a handgun and a rifle—based on shell casings recovered.
No suspects are in custody, though police are investigating ties to gang conflicts. Mello Buckzz, whose fanbase is largely women and LGBTQ+ communities, has referenced affiliation with the No Limit Muskegon Boys (NLMB) gang in her music.
Detectives are probing whether the attack aimed at her inner circle. She had left the venue minutes before the shooting.
“We’re mobilizing to prevent retaliation,” Snelling warned, noting coordination with federal agencies. Police will deploy in “full force” during the July 4th weekend, historically marred by gun violence
A “Safe Space” Shattered
Artis Lounge—a Black- and LGBTQ-owned Creole restaurant that opened in April—branded itself as a sanctuary “where marginalized communities could gather and feel at home.”
Its Instagram statement expressed devastation: “What happened disrupted our mission in the most painful way”.
The city immediately shuttered the venue, echoing a 2022 mass shooting at the same address when it operated as Hush Lounge.
Alderman Brendan Reilly vowed to block any future nightclub there, accusing Artis’ owners of dishonesty: “They promised a restaurant, not a rap album launchpad”
The Human Toll: Grief and Fury
Mello Buckzz’s social media reflected anguish. She posted tributes to Williamson—“my handsomeeee man”—and King, writing, “We were glued at the hip.” In a raw plea, she added: “Prayers up for all my sisters… All I can do is talk to God”.
As violence interrupters canvassed River North for tips Thursday, Mayor Brandon Johnson called the shooting “deplorable and cowardly,” urging witnesses to come forward.
Despite a 32% drop in homicides citywide this year, he acknowledged the trauma: “We cannot let this define us, but we will demand accountability”.