CHICAGO — Eighteen individuals suffered gunshot wounds, and four lives were tragically cut short in a drive-by shooting late Wednesday night outside a nightclub in River North, according to an update from Chicago police.

The incident took place around 11 p.m. near the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue, right outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge and a Dunkin’ Donuts. The vicinity is populated with various clubs and businesses, and witnesses reported hearing rapid gunfire followed by a vehicle speeding away.

“Traumatizing. I’m just shook,” one female witness said.

An employee of the nightclub informed WGN News that it was hosting an album release event for local rapper Mello Buckzz that evening. The club was in the process of closing as the shooting unfolded, resulting in a large crowd congregating outside.

Police say a preliminary investigation indicates a dark-colored car drove past the nightclub minutes after 11 p.m., when an unknown person, or multiple people, took out one or more guns and opened fire into a crowd of people outside.

The victims of the shooting were rushed to several different area hospitals, witnesses telling WGN some police officers didn’t even wait for ambulances to get there and started driving victims to hospitals themselves.

“I heard a lot of gunfire, and then the next thing you know, there was a whole bunch of police officers driving by fast, (and) ambulances, fire and rescue,” one witness, named Deshaun, said.

According to police, at least 16 of the 18 victims ranged in age from 21 to 32. Five men and 13 women were shot.

A 24-year-old man, a 25-year-old man, and two women were pronounced dead, police say. The specific ages of the two women killed have not yet been given.

Among the other 14 people shot, police say three were listed in critical condition, nine were listed in good condition, one was listed in fair condition and one was listed in stable condition.

A woman named Arielle, who lives in the area, said she could tell something bad had happened just by looking at the face of someone who was at the scene.

“I was downstairs doing dishes when I heard this ruckus,” Arielle said. “The first face that came downstairs, when I saw that face, I literally grabbed the phone. … I know faces, I know energy. I could tell something was up.

“The minute I saw that face, I grabbed the phone. I’m the first one to call 911.”

This is a developing situation, and the story will be updated as more details become known.