Four people were killed by gunfire and 14 others hospitalized overnight after a drive-by shooting outside a private nightclub event inChicago, police said on Thursday.
At least three were in critical condition and city news outlets reported that the incident happened after a launch party for the new album by localrapstar Mello Buckzz and that her boyfriend was one of those shot.
The shooting happened around midnight in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. CBS Newsreportedthat as people were leaving the album launch party, a black SUV drove up and three people inside opened fire on the crowd.
The vehicle then immediately drove away and suspects were still at large, the police said.
Preliminary information from police said 13 women and five men ranging in age from 21 to 32 were shot, and that the dead included two men and two women. Those shot were taken to multiple hospitals, police said.
Police said that nine people, including the two women who died, were taken to Northwestern hospital. Five people, including the two men who died, were taken to John H Stroger hospital.
No names have yet been released. Mello Buckzz later issued a statement with few details about what happened or the condition or identity of those shot, but saying “feel like everything just weighing down on me”.
The statement also said: “Prayers up for all my sisters, God please wrap yo arms around every last one of them. We need yo, I need you … I’m f$#!ed up [sic] … all I can do is talk to God and pray.”
The Associated Press contributed reporting