Mello Buckzz was celebrating a major career milestone when gunfire erupted outside her record release event in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, killing four and injuring 14 others late Wednesday night.
she wrote.
Artis Lounge, the venue where the shooting occurred, issued a statement condemning the violence and reaffirming its mission to serve as a safe space for marginalized communities.
“Last night, an act of violence occurred within the vicinity of our restaurant—and it shook us deeply,” the statement read. “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.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pretty Opp
(@mellobuckzz)
The venue added that it is cooperating with law enforcement and taking additional steps to protect its patrons moving forward.
Mello Buckzz, a rising figure in Chicago’s drill scene, gained recognition with her viral singles “Boom” and “Boom Pt. 2,” the latter featuring Latto. She also appeared on G Herbo’s Strictly 4 My Fans 2 mixtape and joined Latto on stage at Coachella in 2023.
As of July 3, police have not announced any leads or suspects in the case.