Thursday’s mass shooting outside Artis Lounge in River North has shocked the city of Chicago, claiming 18 victims, including four fatalities. This tragic event is being described as the deadliest shooting in Chicago in at least 12 years, and potentially the worst ever.
The shooting took place as a record release party for local rapper Mello Buckzz was wrapping up around 11 p.m. Drive-by gunmen opened fire on the crowd outside the lounge, targeting fans of the rapper. Mello Buckzz, who has ties to a South Side street gang faction, expressed her devastation on social media, revealing that her boyfriend was among those killed in the attack. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection to the shooting.
In the wake of this horrific incident, conversations with veteran and retired first responders, as well as searches of historical news reports, have failed to identify any shooting in Chicago’s history that resulted in 18 victims. According to HeyJackass, a website that meticulously tracks Chicago crime data, this shooting in River North is the deadliest recorded since the site began operations in 2013.
The top Chicago shootings with the highest number of victims since 2013, according to HeyJackass, include the recent incident at Artis Lounge on July 2, 2025, as well as other tragic events such as a Halloween party shooting in 2023, an incident outside a funeral home in 2020, and a Halloween party shooting in 2022. These events serve as a grim reminder of the ongoing gun violence plaguing the city.
Despite the city seeing several events with more than four people murdered since 2013, the shooting at Artis Lounge stands out as one of the deadliest in recent years. The community is reeling from the senseless loss of life and is calling for action to address the root causes of gun violence in Chicago.
As we mourn the victims of this tragic shooting, it is crucial for law enforcement and community leaders to come together to prevent such devastating events from happening again. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected by this senseless act of violence.
