Drive-By Gunman Opens Fire at River North Nightclub, 18 Shot and 4 Dead
A drive-by gunman unleashed a barrage of gunfire on a crowd exiting a rap artist’s release party at a River North nightclub, resulting in 18 people being shot, with 4 fatalities, according to authorities. This incident marks the second mass shooting at the same location since 2022.
The shooting took place at 11:02 p.m. as attendees were leaving Artis Lounge on 311 West Chicago Avenue following a celebration for local rapper Mello Buckzz. A Cook County sheriff’s police officer was the first to report hearing gunshots in the vicinity, prompting a flurry of 911 calls from the scene.
Chicago police stated that a dark-colored vehicle drove past the nightclub, with at least one occupant opening fire on individuals outside. Responding officers swiftly applied tourniquets and chest seals to victims to stem blood loss. Some officers opted to transport wounded individuals to hospitals in their patrol vehicles rather than wait for additional ambulances. The chaotic situation, where victims were taken to hospitals by ambulances and private cars, complicated efforts to ascertain an accurate victim count.
Authorities are on the lookout for a dark-colored, four-door 2022 Honda sedan with 20-inch rims that fled east on Chicago Avenue post-shooting. A witness informed CWBChicago that they observed three individuals armed with guns at the scene, indicating the likelihood of multiple shooters.
One Facebook user live-streamed a video capturing the crowd outside the club moments before the shooting occurred. The footage captured the sound of at least 20 gunshots as the streamer drove east on Chicago Avenue. Watch the video below:
In a prior incident in November 2022, one person was killed and three others injured when at least two individuals opened fire outside Hush Nightclub, which previously occupied the same address now housing Artis Lounge.
Despite a $15,000 reward for information on the shooters, no arrests have been made. The city subsequently closed down Hush following the shooting.
Wednesday’s shooting marks the most severe incident in River North since eight people were shot during a late-night altercation in the 300 block of West Erie in October 2023. The deadliest mass shooting in the downtown area occurred on May 19, 2022, when a gunman targeted individuals outside the State-Chicago Red Line station, resulting in nine people shot and two fatalities.
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