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What was meant to be a night of celebration for rising Chicago rapper Mello Buckzz ended in heartbreak after a drive-by shooting left four people dead and 14 others injured outside her album release party on Wednesday night.
The shooting happened just after 11 p.m. outside the Artis Restaurant and Lounge on W. Chicago Ave — a well-known nightlife hotspot in the city’s bustling River North neighborhood. Police say the crowd had just begun exiting the venue when a dark-colored vehicle pulled up and someone inside opened fire before speeding off.
Four people were killed, including two women shot in the chest, a 24-year-old man shot in the chest, and a 25-year-old man shot in the head. Several others were rushed to nearby hospitals in various conditions.
Sources told NBC Chicago that Mello Buckzz’s boyfriend and best friend were among those who tragically lost their lives in the shooting.
Earlier in the day, Mello had posted about the event with excitement on Instagram, sharing a flyer that read “7PM today.” Hours later, her feed turned into a heartbreaking tribute.
“My heart hurt so bad,” she wrote, along with photos and videos of her and her boyfriend. “My handsomeeee mannn.”
In a separate story, she also wrote, “Prayers for all my sisters, God, please wrap your arms around every last one of them. We need you, I need you, ngl I’m fucked up.. Feel like everything just weighing down on me… All I can do is talk to God and pray.”
No arrests have been made yet, and the investigation is ongoing.
Our hearts go out to Mello Buckzz and all the families impacted by this senseless tragedy.
