UPDATE 07/06/2025: The peace walk is talking place today at 2:00 p.m. at Washington Square Park in River North.
Since Wednesday’s tragic shooting, several music and social justice groups have joined together to manifest today’s peace walk. Some of those organizations include Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice, Black Youth Project 100, Equity and Transformation (E.A.T), Classick Studios, Babes Only and Studio Shapes.
The peace walk is organized by Chicago Votes.
UPDATE 07/04/2025: The peace walk has been postponed. This story will be updated with more details as they become available.
ORIGINAL STORY — News about a drive-by shooting in River North that killed four people and left 14 injured outside of rapper Mello Buckzz’s private mixtape release party compelled one longtime Chicago organizer to leap into action.
Alvin Anthony, a board member for Chicago Votes, is planning a peace walk for 2:00 p.m. on July 4 at Washington Square Park, which is on the campus of Moody Bible Institute. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the lounge where Wednesday night’s shooting took place.
Like many Chicagoans, Anthony is mourning the tragedy. He said he wanted to bring people together to mourn the victims and unite the community.
“I’m still in disbelief, but we have to bring Chicago together,” Anthony said. “This is not what Chicago is, and this is not what Chicago should be in the national news.”
He learned about the shooting through social media, and said the incident left him in disbelief and weighed heavily on his heart and mind the morning after.
“We have to unite, uplift our communities and be there for each other. We have to organize and speak out, and there has to be more action,” he continued.
The shooting happened on Wednesday night outside of Artis Restaurant and Lounge, a new Black queer-owned spot that blends Creole, southern and American culinary traditions. That’s where rising Chicago rapper Mello Buckzz hosted a private release party for her debut EP, HollyHOOD, which dropped on July 3.
According to the Chicago Police Department (CPD) Supt. Larry Snelling, attendees were leaving Mello’s party at 11:02 p.m. and standing on the sidewalk in the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue when a dark-colored vehicle drove past the lounge. An unknown person displayed a gun and then began shooting into the crowd of people, striking multiple people.
“They opened fire on a crowd. They didn’t care who was struck, and in a matter of seconds, they were able to shoot 18 people in a matter of seconds,” Snelling said about the gunman during a joint press conference with Mayor Brandon Johnson on Thursday.
The car fled the scene. No one is in custody, and Area Three Detectives are investigating.
On Thursday, Artis Restaurant and Lounge released a statement on Instagram expressing their condolences to the victims of the shooting.
“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,” the statement reads.
Four adults ranging in age from 24 to 27 were among those who were killed during the shooting. Although their identities have not been shared publicly by officials, Mello posted on her Instagram Story that one of the slain victims was her boyfriend. She also shared images and loving messages about the other friends she lost in the shooting.
“I don’t wish this typa pain on nobody,” Mello wrote on her Instagram Story.
The other 14 victims injured range in ages 21 to 32. They are in various conditions in hospitals throughout the city.
“These are innocent folks who lost their lives. These are innocent folks who are in critical condition,” Anthony said.
What’s The Word TV, a local culture blog, wrote in a statement on Instagram that “a member of the Whats The Word family” was injured in the incident.
“We are heartbroken by the violence that occurred outside of the Rive North lounge. What was intended to be a joyful and safe moment for Chicago’s creative community was disrupted by senseless violent acts leaving attendees shaken and some fatally harmed,” the statement reads. “We appreciate the outpouring of love and support and will continue to stand with our city and creative community, always.”
Johnson also mentioned a second mass shooting on the Far South Side that left four people injured; it took place just hours after the River North shooting. According to CPD, an unknown person opened fire and wounded four people at 3:17 a.m. on Thursday in the 600 block of East 133rd Street. The shooting is under investigation by Area Two detectives.
“We stand here today, certainly frustrated and angered by this senseless and cowardice act of violence,” Johnson said at the press conference. “Our hearts are with the families of the victims, and we are praying for full recovery for all of those who were shot. Shootings like these are a tragic reminder of how far we still have to go as a city.”
Mello Buckzz is one of the most exciting rappers in Chicago right now. In 2023, TRiiBE music contributor Mark P. Braboy reported on her rise with the release of her drill track, “Boom (Mouskatool)” featuring Kashh Mirr, Amari Blaze, and Moni Da G. Shortly after, double-platinum rapper Latto jumped on its sequel “Boom, Pt. 2” and even made a visit to Mello’s 78th and Essex stomping ground for the music video. Latto also brought out Mello during her set at the 2023 Coachella Music Festival, and 1990s rap icon Lil Kim brought Mello out during her headlining performance at the 2023 Hyde Park Summer Fest.
Mello dropped her debut mixtape, HollyHOOD, on streaming services on July 3. The album features her latest hit single, “Move Pt.2,” a juke track featuring Houston rapper Monaleo, which was re-released on Feb. 4. The tape also features homegrown artists STAR BANDZ, Chuckyy, and G Herbo.
“That’s what makes the event so sad,” Braboy told The TRiiBE about the shooting outside of her release party. “This was supposed to be a coming out thing for her.”
Braboy said Mello was on the “up and up” after going viral multiple times with songs like “Move” and “hmm…BD” featuring G Herbo. This moment in time was meant to be a celebration and a chance for Mello to capitalize on her success. Instead, the moment was met with tragedy.
Braboy added that Mello tried to pivot from drill into different music lanes. Her “Move” track and HollyHOOD mixtape reflects that, he said.
“If you really take a look at the album, HollyHOOD is about being a Black girl from the hood, celebrating where she came from,” Braboy said.
During today’s press conference, Johnson reiterated that policing isn’t the only way to solve safety issues. He also pointed to alternatives like community violence intervention programs and peace workers who are helping reduce crime.
Both Johnson and Garien Gatewood, the deputy mayor of community safety, pointed out what resources would be available during the holiday weekend.
“We also activated a few safe spaces throughout this weekend — [such as] late-night basketball, which will bring in over 100 young folks in each of those locations around the city — to create those safe spaces while also making sure we have the resources necessary with our police department,” Gatewood explained.
Anthony hopes Friday’s peace walk is also a moment for healing.
“Chicago is a beautiful city. We have beautiful communities. We have beautiful people, beautiful Black people within these communities,” Anthony said. “We need to uplift each other within our voices, communities and everything. That’s the point of this peace walk.”
