The lively mood at Chicago rapper Mello Buckzz’s album release party was destroyed Wednesday night by a terrible drive-by shooting that killed four people and injured fourteen others. The heartbreaking event happened just after 11 PM and has left the artist in deep grief, as her boyfriend and three close friends were among those killed for no reason.
The shooting took place on the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue, right outside a nightclub called the Artis Lounge, which was where Mello Buckzz was celebrating her new music. Police have confirmed that the deadly attack happened when someone fired into a crowd of people standing outside the club. The shooter then drove away, leaving behind a scene of chaos and horror.
A video that has been shared on social media, found by TMZ, appears to show a car driving past the location right before the gunshots started, with the sound of the shots clearly heard in the video. This footage gives a glimpse into the moments before the violence broke out, taking multiple lives and hurting many others.
Mello Buckzz album release party cut short by shooting
Of the fourteen people who were injured, three are in critical condition, showing how serious the attack was. One of the critically injured is a 24-year-old woman who was shot in the back. Another is a 25-year-old woman who was shot in her left leg. A third person in critical condition is a 21-year-old woman who was shot in the mouth. The high number of victims and the severity of their injuries show how random and cruel the shooting was, affecting many more lives than just those who died.
The personal impact of this tragedy on Mello Buckzz is clear. In the hours after the attack, she shared her shock and sadness on social media. Her posts show how much pain she is in, especially over the loss of her boyfriend, whom she kept out of the public eye. She described holding his hand until she could no longer do so, a heartbreaking detail that shows her final moments with him. This personal story makes it clear how deeply the violence has hurt her.
Chicago rapper Mello buckzz album release party shot up in downtown Chicago, 4 dead including her boyfriend and her best friend. She from same hood as g herbo and had Latto pull up to shoot a video there 2 years ago pic.twitter.com/p36ykp8WU8
— STREETWORK85NAWF BY DRE HOVA(@Streetwork85N) July 3, 2025
Besides her boyfriend, Mello Buckzz is also grieving the loss of her “brother” and two female friends, who she identified on Instagram as “TayyTayy” and “@avi_gorgeous.” Losing these close friends has left a huge hole in her personal and professional life. Such shootings have killed many rappers and loved ones like Tupac Shakurr and Takeoff in the past.
Even though she is going through an unbearable personal tragedy, Mello Buckzz’s “HollyHood” EP was released on Thursday, the day after the shooting. Releasing music while dealing with such a deep loss creates a sharp contrast between her work as an artist and the violent reality that has hurt her and the people she loves. The timing of the album’s release adds a sad layer to everything happening, marking both a professional milestone and a time of deep sorrow for the rising artist.
