Rising Chicago rapper Mello Buckzz watched her album release party turn into a crime scene Tuesday night (July 2) when gunfire erupted outside Artis Lounge in downtown Chicago, leaving four people dead and more than a dozen wounded.
The shooting unfolded around 11 p.m. as crowds spilled into the street after the event.
According to police, a dark-colored vehicle pulled up, and one or more shooters opened fire into the crowd before speeding away. No arrests have been made, and authorities have not released any suspect descriptions.
Among the victims were two men, ages 24 and 25, and two women, NBC Chicago reported.
At least 14 others were injured, with three women in critical condition. Most of the victims were between 21 and 32 years old.
Sources told the outlet that Mello Buckzz lost both her boyfriend and her best friend in the attack.
The rapper took to her Instagram Stories in a series of raw posts expressing her heartbreak.
“My heart hurt so bad,” she wrote alongside a video of herself in a car with a man. In another clip, the pair danced playfully. “We was having so much fun,” she wrote. “We couldn’t leave each other alone.”
“im so f###### angry,” she added.
She also shared a photo with her friend, writing, “i can’t believe i lost both yall in 1 night.”
“i dont wish this typa pain on nobody,” she wrote. “Dam my f###### crew.”
Footage from the scene showed a heavy police presence, flashing lights and paramedics treating victims on the sidewalk.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and investigators are continuing to gather information.
This story is developing.
