Camilla Jessen
Violence erupts after album release party in River North neighborhood.
A night of music turned into a nightmare late Wednesday when gunfire outside a Chicago nightclub left three people dead and at least 16 others wounded in what authorities are calling a targeted attack.
The shooting happened just before midnight outside Artis Lounge in the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue, a trendy part of the city’s River North district.
Police say the violence began moments after a release party for local rapper Mello Buckzz had ended and people were filing out of the club.
According to officials, a vehicle drove by the crowd and someone opened fire.
“This was a targeted attack,” a city official confirmed to CBS.
In total, 19 people were shot, including the three who died at the scene or later at the hospital.
Chris King, spokesperson for Northwestern Medicine, said multiple victims were being treated at their emergency department. No details have been released about their conditions.
Location Already Marked by Tragedy
This isn’t the first time this stretch of Chicago Avenue has seen deadly violence.
In November 2022, when the same location operated under the name Hush Lounge, a shooting there left one person dead and three others injured following a dispute with a group ejected from the club.
That incident led to Hush Lounge being shut down by the city, and Artis Lounge opened in its place.
Authorities are now investigating whether this latest shooting is linked to earlier events at the same address, including any possible ties to gang activity.
As of Thursday morning, no suspects have been arrested.
Chicago Police Officer Julio Garcia said updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.
