Chicago River North Mass Shooting Victims

Just after 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, a crowd was leaving Artis Restaurant and Lounge at 311 West Chicago Avenue, in Chicago's River North neighborhood, where a release party had been held for local rapper Mello Buckzz (Melanie Doyle). A dark-colored vehicle drove past the venue and its occupants opened fire on the people gathered on the sidewalk. Eighteen people were shot in a matter of seconds. Four of them died, and 14 others, ranging in age from 21 to 32, were wounded, several critically. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said of the attackers, "They didn't care who was struck, and in a matter of seconds they were able to shoot 18 people."

The four people killed were Taylor Walker, 26, a hairstylist from Chicago's South Side; Aviance King, 27 (identified in some early reports as Aviance Drexler), a married healthcare worker; Leon Andrew Henry, 25; and Devonte Terrell Williamson, 23, a truck driver and father of a young daughter who was the boyfriend of Mello Buckzz. Family members described Walker and King as having been dressed up and excited for a night out; Williamson's family remembered him as a smart, caring and loving father. Survivors included Christian Loggins, a 25-year-old photographer who was shot in the hand and leg and later described shielding a friend as the gunfire erupted.

Investigators characterized the shooting as a targeted, drive-by attack, and police said they were examining the possibility that it was retaliation connected to an earlier conflict, possibly gang-related. According to reporting cited by Wikipedia, the suspected target had already left the venue before the shooting began. Police believed multiple shooters — as many as three — fired from the passing vehicle. Superintendent Snelling said shell casings of two different calibers, including possible rifle rounds, were recovered at the scene, while CWB Chicago, citing an internal police bulletin, reported that investigators recovered more than 20 casings of three different calibers.

The attack had lasting effects on the surrounding community. The same address had been the scene of a prior mass shooting in 2022, when the space housed a different club. On July 16, 2025, two weeks after the shooting, the owners of Artis announced that the restaurant and lounge would close permanently, saying the decision was made with "a heavy heart, but clear mind." Cook County Crime Stoppers announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to arrests in the case.

Despite the reward and extensive media attention, the case remains unsolved. In an August 2025 interview, survivor Christian Loggins noted that no one was in custody, and a June 2026 CWB Chicago report confirmed that no charges had been filed and the shooting — among the largest mass shootings in Chicago's history by number of people struck — remained unsolved. The Chicago Police Department's investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact CPD or Cook County Crime Stoppers.