Exposing yet another failure of soft-on-crime policies in the Windy City, four people are dead and fourteen others wounded after a drive-by shooting outside a River North nightclub in Chicago.
Eighteen people were shot, with four fatalities, when attackers in a dark-colored vehicle opened fire on a crowd outside the Artis Restaurant and Lounge in Chicago’s River North neighborhood last night around 11.
The victims, who were reportedly attending an album release party for local rapper Mello Buckzz, were gunned down while waiting in line to enter the establishment on the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue.
The bloody attack marks the worst mass shooting in downtown Chicago since 2022, revealing the ongoing plague of violence that continues to haunt the Democrat-controlled city despite officials’ repeated claims of improved safety.
According to police, the vehicle involved circled the block before the occupants opened fire, suggesting this was a targeted, premeditated attack rather than a random act of violence.
Two men, aged 24 and 25, died at Stroger Hospital, while two women succumbed to their injuries at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The remaining victims include three in critical condition, one in serious condition, and ten others in good to fair condition.
The attack primarily targeted young adults, with victims ranging from 21 to 32 years old.
As of this morning, no suspects were in custody, highlighting the ongoing challenge law enforcement faces in a city where criminals often act with impunity.
Area 3 detectives are investigating the shooting, with indications that multiple shooters may have been involved in the coordinated attack.
Notably, a previous fatal shooting occurred at the same address in November 2022, raising serious questions about security in the area and the effectiveness of local law enforcement strategies.
The Artis Lounge, which was licensed to open in February 2025 but had been operating since April 10, claimed to provide a “safe space” for marginalized communities.
Residents in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots ringing out in the popular nightlife district, sending bystanders fleeing for safety as chaos erupted on the typically bustling street.
Emergency responders rushed victims to nearby hospitals, where medical staff worked frantically to save lives.
This devastating incident comes despite Chicago officials’ claims that crime is decreasing in the city.
Recent data revealed that murder rates have reportedly fallen by 32% and shooting incidents by 39% as of June 29.
However, this mass casualty event shows that statistics offer little comfort to victims and their families when violent criminals continue to terrorize communities.
The shooting has reignited debates about gun violence, crime, and public safety in one of America’s most troubled cities.
In such cities, gun control laws have consistently failed to prevent criminals from obtaining and using illegal firearms to commit heinous acts of violence against innocent citizens.
