051 Young Money Member DeAndre”YMN Woo” Golden, Brother of Late Rapper 051 Melly, Killed in River North Shooting on North LaSalle Drive; Three Others Critically Wounded.

The targeted killing of DeAndre “051 Woo” Golden, the brother of a slain rapper, in Chicago’s upscale River North neighborhood marks a grim bookend to a year of escalating gun violence in the city, raising urgent questions about community safety and the cyclical nature of street conflicts.

The Attack: A Targeted Ambush

In the early hours of Sunday, December 28, 2025, a scene of luxury and celebration turned to carnage on the 400-block of North LaSalle Drive near West Hubbard Street. At approximately 2:35 a.m., DeAndre Golden (34), known in the music scene as 051 WOO or YMN Woo, was with three friends. They were in the process of entering a distinctive green Lamborghini SUV when four unknown male suspects approached on foot.

Without warning, the assailants opened fire on the group. Following the shooting, the suspects fled the area in a waiting vehicle. The Chicago Police Department (CPD) has released no descriptions of the suspects or their getaway car, and as of Sunday afternoon, no arrests have been made. Detectives from Area Three are investigating but have not disclosed a potential motive.

The violence was precise and brutal. Golden sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body. Despite being rushed to Northwestern Hospital, he was pronounced dead. His death adds a deeply personal layer of tragedy, as he was the older brother of the fallen famous 051 Young Money member, Melly (Jamell Demons), who was killed in 2019.

The Other Victims:
The three men with Golden remain in critical condition at Northwestern Hospital.

· A 36-year-old man was shot in the chest.
· A 43-year-old man was shot in the back.
· A 35-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine Golden’s official cause and manner of death.

A Family and a Community Re-Traumatized

The death of DeAndre Golden is not an isolated incident for his family or his community. It represents a devastating sequel to a loss that has already defined them.

· The Legacy of 051 Melly: Golden’s younger brother, rapper 051 Melly, was a prominent figure in Chicago’s drill music scene. His murder in 2019 sent shockwaves through the city and the genre. For Golden to be killed under similarly violent circumstances six years later compounds the family’s grief and highlights the persistent dangers associated with street affiliations.
· The “Golden” Name and Chicago Violence: In a tragic coincidence, the Golden surname has been at the center of another high-profile Chicago shooting in recent years. In 2022, off-duty Chicago Police Officer Danny Golden was shot in the back and paralyzed while trying to break up a bar fight in Beverly. While there is no relation, the shared name underscores how pervasively gun violence touches different facets of Chicago life, from the music world to the police force.

River North: A Recurring Scene of Violence

The shooting occurred in River North, a downtown neighborhood known for its nightlife, upscale restaurants, and galleries. However, this area has repeatedly been the backdrop for mass violence in 2025, suggesting a troubling pattern.

· The July 2nd Massacre at Artis Restaurant: Just five months prior, on July 2, 2025, River North was the site of one of Chicago’s worst mass shootings in years. At approximately 11:00 p.m., a drive-by shooting outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge (311 W. Chicago Ave.) left 4 people dead and 14 others wounded. That attack targeted a crowd gathered for a mixtape release party for rapper Mello Buckzz (Melanie Doyle). Among the dead were the rapper’s boyfriend, Devonte Terrell Williamson (23), and her best friend.
· Echoes of Past Violence: The July shooting at Artis itself occurred at an address with a violent history; a previous mass shooting at the same location in 2022 led to the closure of a prior business. Following the July attack, 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly called for Artis’s permanent closure, citing “serious public safety concerns”.

The shooting that killed Golden early Sunday morning, while smaller in scale, follows this pattern of high-profile, targeted violence in the heart of the city’s entertainment district.

City Response and an Ongoing Crisis

The dual tragedies in River North have forced city leaders to repeatedly confront the issue of public safety in crowded entertainment areas.

· Official Reactions: Following the July shooting, Mayor Brandon Johnson and Police Superintendent Larry Snelling held a press conference condemning the violence. Superintendent Snelling noted that two different calibers of shell casings were recovered, indicating multiple firearms were used. Mayor Johnson stated, “Shootings like these are a tragic reminder of how far we still have to go as a city… We will not rest until there is full accountability”.
· National Attention: The July shooting garnered significant national attention. In August 2025, the White House Office cited it as an example of Chicago’s crime problem in a document discussing potential National Guard deployment.
· Community Trauma: The violence leaves deep scars. A witness to the July shooting described “absolute chaos,” with people using their shirts to staunch wounds. A neighbor near the December 28th shooting similarly reported hearing multiple shots and seeing police place crime scene tape around the green SUV.

Seeking Answers and a Path Forward

As investigations into both the July and December River North shootings continue, critical questions remain unanswered:

· Motive and Retaliation: Police have said neither shooting appears random. A central question is whether the killing of DeAndre Golden is connected to his brother’s 2019 death, to the July massacre, or to other ongoing conflicts. Community activist Andrew Holmes, speaking after the July shooting, expressed fear it would spark a “cycle of retaliation”.
· Policing Nightlife Violence: These incidents raise challenges for policing private events and nightlife districts. After the July shooting, Supt. Snelling explained that the private mixtape party “wasn’t on [CPD’s] radar”. Aldermen like Brendan Reilly are now pushing for stricter accountability for venue owners who host events that turn violent.
· The Human Toll: Beyond the statistics, these shootings devastate networks of family and friends. Mello Buckzz wrote on Instagram after the July shooting, “My heart broke into so many pieces”. The Golden family now bears the weight of a second, profound loss.

The Chicago Police are urging anyone with information about the December 28th shooting to come forward anonymously via CPDTIP.com or by contacting the 18th District at (312) 742-5870.

The killing of DeAndre Golden is more than a headline. It is a story of personal tragedy set against a city’s recurring struggle with public violence. As Chicago moves into a new year, the echoes of gunfire in River North serve as a somber reminder of the work that remains to break the cycles of loss and retaliation that claim lives across communities.