Latest news with #ArtisLounge
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly calls for permanent closure of Artis Restaurant and Lounge after mass shooting
Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) on Thursday called for the city to permanently shut down a River North nightclub, after a mass shooting outside Wednesday night left four people dead and 14 wounded. Reilly, whose ward includes the Artis Restaurant and Lounge nightclub, called the shooting disturbing, and cited a history of violence at the location as a reason to shut it down. After an album release party for rapper Mello Buckzz, police said someone in a dark vehicle drove past the nightclub as the rapper's friends and fans hung around outside, firing shots into the crowd. Rabbi Avraham Kagan heard the gunfire. "It was last night around 11, and we just heard we heard noise. It was gunshots; pow, pow, pow," Kagan said. Four people were killed and 14 others injured. The owners of the lounge, Brandi and Brittany Artis, rented the space just a few months ago, and promoted the fact it was owned by Black queer women. Exavier Pope, who attended a soft opening for the lounge earlier this year to celebrate one of the owner's birthdays, said, "It is a beautiful space." "It is a very welcoming space," he said. But the space has also has a history of violence. In November 2022, one person was killed and three others were wounded in a mass shooting at the former Hush Lounge nightclub in the same space. Operating under a different owner at the time, the city temporarily closed Hush after that shooting, and under pressure from Reilly the city revoked its licenses and eventually shut Hush down. In a statement released on Thursday, Reilly asked the city to revoke Artis Lounges' business license, and immediately pursue permanent closure of the club. "Given the serious public safety concerns and clear mismanagement of this event, I am calling on the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to revoke this business license immediately and pursue permanent closure of the establishment," Reilly wrote. The Chicago Police Department already has issued a summary closure of the building, temporarily closing it amid an investigation into the shooting and the location itself. "Despite early assurances from the new restaurant owner that this venue would support local artisans, foster inclusivity, and serve as a hub for connection, creativity, and joy - the owners decided to turn over their venue to promote a new rap album release," Reilly wrote. "It is clear the new operators were dishonest with the City about their plans for the venue and have now contributed to a devastating act of violence—just weeks after opening as a BYOB 'restaurant.'" Pope thinks forcing Artis Lounge to shut down is a harsh move for the new owners "These women started this business in this community to be able to make a safe space, and it was tarnished, and this shouldn't be the overall way that the community views them as business owners," There have been other violent incidents the River North community in recent years. In May 2022, just a few blocks from what is now Artis Lounge, a mass shooting left 2 dead and 7 hurt outside of a McDonald's at Chicago Avenue and State Street. In October 2023, a block away, eight people were shot outside a restaurant and bar in the 300 block of West Erie Street. More security is what Rabbi Kagan would like to see. "When such incidents occur, that's an automatic call for more security, which helps ensure these things don't happen again, and it also acutally helps those who are perpetrating the crimes," he said. The restaurant's owners had no comment on Reilly's call to shut them down.
Al Jazeera
2 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
Four killed, 14 injured in mass shooting outside downtown Chicago lounge
Four people in the United States have been killed and at least 14 others wounded when gunmen opened fire on a crowd outside a lounge in downtown Chicago, according to police. According to authorities, the mass shooting took place around 11:00pm (04:00 GMT) on Wednesday, when shots were fired from a vehicle travelling along Chicago Avenue in the city's River North neighbourhood. Chicago police reported that 13 women and five men, all between the ages of 21 and 32, were struck by the gunfire. Among the dead were two men and two women. As of Thursday, at least three victims remained in critical condition. The injured were transported to local hospitals. Police said the driver fled the scene immediately, and no arrests have been made. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling urged the public to submit anonymous tips to help detectives identify the suspects. Local media reported that rapper Mello Buckzz, also known as Melanie Doyle, was hosting a private event at the lounge Wednesday evening to celebrate the release of her new album. Snelling said police were trying to determine a motive and that the venue, Artis Lounge, is closed 'until we get to the bottom of this'. He did not identify the number of attackers involved in the incident but said police found two different calibres of casings and were still reviewing footage. 'Clearly, there was some target in some way,' Snelling said. 'This wasn't some random shooting.' Artis Lounge confirmed they were working with authorities as the investigation continued. A post shared by Ärt-is Restaurant and Lounge (@artischicago) 'I can only describe it as a warzone' In the hours after the shooting, Buckzz asked for prayers and expressed her anger and sadness on social media. 'My heart broke into so many pieces,' the artist wrote on Instagram Stories. In her posts, the rapper revealed that many of those injured were her friends, and that she had been in a relationship with one of the men who was killed. 'Prayers up for all my sisters god please wrap yo arms around every last one of them,' Buckzz wrote across several Instagram Story slides. 'Feel like everything just weighing down on me … all I can do is talk to god and pray.' Chicago pastor Donovan Price, who works with communities affected by violence, described the scene as a 'warzone'. 'Just mayhem and blood and screaming and confusion as people tried to find their friends and phones. It was a horrendous, tragic, dramatic scene,' he told The Associated Press. The shooting took place days before the Fourth of July weekend, when Chicago and other major cities often see a surge in gun crimes. In recent years, however, Chicago has seen an overall decrease in gun violence. During the last Fourth of July weekend in Chicago, more than 100 people were shot, resulting in at least 19 deaths. Mayor Brandon Johnson said at the time that the violence 'has left our city in a state of grief'.
Black America Web
5 hours ago
- Black America Web
Chicago Nightclub Shooting Kills Four, 14 Wounded
Anadolu Independence Day weekend got off to a rough start before it even began in Chicago last night (7/2) when a shooting outside of Artis Lounge nightclub resulted in at least four deaths and an additional 14 being wounded. The tragic scene in River North coincided with an album release party for rising rapper Mello Buckzz. RELATED: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Proposes Task Force To Address Crime On Black Women The official report from Chicago police puts the incident starting at around 11PM, when a dark SUV drove past Artis Lounge and three people from inside the car fired many shots at those standing outside. More information on the victims in this senseless shooting below, via CBS News: 'The victims injured in the shooting range in age from 21 to 32 years old. Of the injured, two were taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital, two were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, three were taken to Stroger Hospital and six were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in conditions ranging from good to critical. Four of the injured are in serious to critical condition, according to Chicago police. A 24-year-old man was shot in the chest and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died. A 25-year-old man was shot in the head and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he died. A 26-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman were both shot in the chest and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where they died, Chicago police said.' Mello Buckzzz herself appears to be taking the situation quite hard, as multiple posts in her recent Instagram Stories (seen below) reveal she was connected to all four of the deceased including a boyfriend, brother and two best friends. The owners of Artis Lounge addressed the tragedy with a statement that reads, 'Last night, an act of violence occurred within the vicinity of our restaurant and it deeply shook us. Artis was created as a safe space. A Space where Black, Brown, Queer, and allied communities could gather, be celebrated, and feel at home in River north. We've always led with that mission. And what happened last night disrupted it in the most painful way. Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones.' No arrests have been made so far, but we'll do our best to give updates as an investigation into the shooting and search for the three shooters remains ongoing. We send prayers to all those who lost a loved one. SEE ALSO
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Four dead, fourteen injured in drive-by shooting at Mello Buckzz album launch party in Chicago
A tragic shooting outside a nightclub in Chicago has left four people dead and 14 others injured. The shooting occurred late Wednesday night, just as guests were leaving a private album launch party for rapper Mello Buckzz. Police confirmed the incident took place around midnight in the city's River North neighborhood, near Artis Lounge nightclub, located on the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue. Doowop Being Carried After Wounded Post Mello Buckzz Shooting — Slime (@FearedSlime) July 3, 2025 The gunfire erupted when three people in a black SUV drove up to the crowd standing outside the venue and opened fire. The suspects fled the scene immediately after the assault, and authorities are still searching for the culprits. Among the 14 injured, three remain in critical condition, including a 24-year-old woman shot in the back, a 25-year-old with a leg injury, and a 21-year-old woman who was shot in the mouth. The victims ranged in age from 21 to 32, and the dead included two men and two women. Victims were rushed to multiple hospitals, with many taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and John H. Stroger Hospital. #BREAKING VIDEO FROM MASS SHOOTING IN CHICAGO EARLIER TONIGHT THAT HAS LED TO 2 DEAD AND 12 People shot It occurred at the Artis nightclub during the release party for Mello Buckzz — Brian's Breaking News and Intel (@intelFromBrian) July 3, 2025 Mello Buckzz, who had been celebrating the release of her new album, expressed her devastation on social media. In a heart-wrenching statement, the rapper shared her grief, saying, "I feel like everything just weighing down on me," and added, "Prayers up for all my sisters, God please wrap yo arms around every last one of them." -Instagram. -Instagram. The shooting has left the local community shaken, with Buckzz mourning the loss of her boyfriend and close friends, including two women known on Instagram as "TayyTayy" and @avi_gorgeous. In the hours following the tragedy, Buckzz shared a tribute on Instagram, recounting the moments she spent with her boyfriend, describing how she held his hand until she could no longer. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not yet identified any suspects. Mello Buckzz's latest EP, HollyHood, was released on Thursday amidst the shock and sadness surrounding the incident.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Mello Buckzz? All on rapper at center stage of Chicago mass shooting
At least four people were killed and 14 others were wounded in a drive-by mass shooting incident outside a private nightclub in Chicago on Wednesday night. Police said the incident took place at around 11 PM (local time) when a dark SUV drove past the Artis Lounge nightclub in Chicago's River North area, The Guardian reported. Who is Mello Buckzz?(Instagram/ Mello Buckzz) Soon after, three people from inside the vehicle started firing shots when people were leaving the album launch party of Chicago rapper Mello Buckzz. Among those shot were 13 women and five men, ranging in the 21-32 age group, while the dead included two men and two women. Buckzz's boyfriend was also shot in the incident, the report added. Post the attack, the vehicle immediately drove away, police informed, adding that the suspects were still at large. The rapper later issued a statement on Instagram and said, 'Prayers up for all my sisters, God please wrap your arms around every last one of them. We need yo, I need you...I'm f****d up... all I can do is talk to God and pray (sic)' While the victims' identity has not been confirmed yet, Buckzz' Instagram Stories suggest that her boyfriend was among them, The Mirror reported. In one of the videos, he can be seen making heart gestures with hands, while another one shows a photograph of him. Alongside the image, she wrote, "My handsomeeee mannn," followed by crying emoji. Who is Mello Buckzz? Famous for her hard-hitting tracks, the 24-year-old was born as Melanie Doyle. In recent years, Buckzz has made a name for herself in Midwest hip-hop through songs like Boom (Mouskatool) and Boom Pt. 2. She has worked with fellow artists like Amari Blaze, Kashh Mir, Moni Da G, as well as Atlanta rapper Latto. Her work has gained significant attention across various platforms. 'Boom' has amassed more than 3.5 million Spotify streams, while its official video has received nine million views on YouTube. Earlier this year, she was in Atlanta and recorded 'Hula Hoop' at a live session. FAQs: 1. How many people were killed in the Chicago mass shooting? Among those dead are two men and two women. 2. When did the incident take place? It happened late on Wednesday night when Mello Buckzz's album launch party was ending. 3. Who are the suspects? As of now, details regarding the three suspects are unknown.
