Mello Buckzz’s dad kept selling firearms even after a mass shooting outside his daughter’s album release party left four people dead and 14 wounded, federal prosecutors said.
Melvin Doyle, 45, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after allegedly selling 13 guns to undercover informants between May 20 and July 7, according to a federal complaint.
One of those transactions happened just days after the July 2 shooting outside Artis Lounge in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, where Mello Buckzz had hosted a private event.
Authorities said Doyle, who has prior felony convictions for attempted murder and drug trafficking, was legally barred from owning or selling any firearms.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) launched an investigation in May after receiving tips that Doyle was dealing guns.
Agents used confidential informants to arrange and record multiple buys from Doyle, including one at his home on the 5800 block of South Martin Luther King Drive.
Investigators have not linked Doyle’s weapons to the shooting, and no suspects have been arrested in the case.
Doyle’s criminal history includes a 1998 conviction for attempted murder, a 2003 conviction for manufacturing and delivering controlled substances, and a 2006 conviction for heroin distribution.
Those convictions make it illegal for him to possess or sell firearms. Prosecutors say the gun sales were all captured on audio and video.
Police are still on the hunt for multiple gunmen who opened fire in front of Mello Buckzz’s mixtape release party.
They shot from a dark-colored vehicle around 1:30 a.m. July 2, targeting a crowd outside the club. The shooters fled the scene, and detectives believe the attack may have been retaliatory.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to arrests.