It was supposed to be a night out with friends, ending with a ride in a luxury SUV. Instead, a sudden burst of violence in the heart of Chicago’s River North neighborhood early Sunday morning left a 34-year-old man dead and three of his companions fighting for their lives. The victims were just steps from a green Lamborghini Urus, targeted in what police describe as a brazen, coordinated attack.
The shooting erupted around 2:35 a.m. on December 28, 2025, near the bustling intersection of North LaSalle Drive and West Hubbard Street. According to Chicago Police, four unknown men walked up to a group of friends and opened fire without warning. All four victims were struck as they were about to get into the parked vehicle. The gunmen then fled the scene in a waiting car, vanishing into the night.
The sole fatality has been identified by police as 34-year-old DeAndre Golden, who was also known in his community as 051 WOO or YMN Woo. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at Northwestern Hospital. His death echoes a painful, personal tragedy; Golden was the brother of the late rapper Melly, a member of the 051 Young Money group who was himself killed in a 2019 shooting.
The three surviving victims—men aged 35, 36, and 43—were all listed in critical condition following the attack. One was shot in the chest, another in the back, and the third sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body. As of the latest updates, they remain hospitalized, their conditions a grave concern for families and investigators alike.
Detectives from Area Three are scouring the area for evidence, but details are scarce. No descriptions of the shooters or their getaway vehicle have been released, and a clear motive remains elusive. The precision of the attack—with the group being approached on foot and fired upon as they gathered—strongly suggests the victims were specifically targeted, police sources indicate.
The incident has sent a renewed wave of anguish through Chicago’s drill music scene and the communities connected to it, where Golden was known. It marks another chapter in a long-running cycle of street violence that has claimed multiple lives linked to the same circles. Community advocates point to this shooting as a stark example of how personal and group conflicts continue to spill onto the city’s streets, even in upscale, high-traffic districts.
As the investigation continues, Chicago police are pleading for the public’s help. They are urging anyone who was in the River North area late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, or who has any information about the shooting, to come forward anonymously. Tips can be submitted at CPDTIP.com or by calling the 18th District detectives. For now, a community is left to grieve another lost life and pray for the recovery of three men clinging to theirs.
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