A drive-by mass shooting at a club in Chicago’s River North neighborhood left at least four people dead and more than a dozen others wounded, police said.
The violence erupted Wednesday night outside the Artis Lounge nightclub, where people had gathered for rapper Mello Buckzz’s record-release party, NBC Chicago reported. Police said a dark SUV drove past the venue on in the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue around 11 p.m., and three people in the vehicle opened fire on the crowds standing outside.
The vehicle fled the scene immediately and no one has been taken into custody as of Thursday.
Police said two men and two women were killed in the shooting. None of their names have been released, but the male victims were 24 and 25 years old, according to CBS Chicago.
Another 14 people were wounded, including three who remain hospitalized and in critical condition. They range in age from 21 to 32 years old.
Few other details were provided.
“Artis was created as a safe space. A space where Black, Brown, Queer, and allied communities could gather, be celebrated, and feel at home in River North,” the restaurant said in a statement to Axios.
“We’ve always led with that mission. And what happened last night disrupted it in the most painful way.”
Another shooting occurred at the same address back in 2022, when the venue was called Hush Lounge. One person was killed and another three injured in the violence, which prompted the city to shut down the nightclub.
Despite the deadly violence Wednesday, murder is down 32% in Chicago as of June 29 and shooting incidents are down 39%, according to the city’s crime data.
