Four people were killed and at least 14 were injured in a mass shooting on July 3 outside the River North spot Artis, according to WBEZ.
A black vehicle pulled up outside Artis and at least one person in the car opened fire on a crowd of people gathering around 11 p.m.—at the tail end of an album release party for Chicago drill rapper Mello Buckzz, police said. Authorities speculated that Buckzz was probably the target of the shootings, although she had already left the venue when the shooting started. However, according to The Guardian, Buckzz’s boyfriend was allegedly one of the people shot.
The restaurant is at the same location of a nightclub the city shut down over two years ago after a fatal shooting happened outside. That mass shooting happened in 2022, when a person was killed and three injured outside what was then the nightclub Hush Chicago.
In May, Windy City Times profiled Artis as an inclusive spot. A pre-opening press release stated, “With a commitment to fostering inclusivity and uplifting Chicago’s Black and Brown LGBTQ+ communities, Artis will host regular community events, showcase local queer artists, and ensure a welcoming environment for all who walk through its doors.”
In a statement posted to social media after the July 3 incident, the Artis team said that “an act of violence occurred within the vicinity of our restaurant—and it shook us deeply.
“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.”
Married couple Brittani and Brandy Artis are behind this Black-, Brown-, queer- and women-owned establishment.