No evidence connecting dad of Mello Buckzz to River North mass shooting, prosecutors say

There is currently no evidence linking the mass shooting that occurred at rapper Mello Buckzz's album release party to her father’s federal gun case, prosecutors told a judge Friday.

Melvin Doyle, 59, appeared before a federal judge for a detention hearing Friday morning, accused of selling several firearms to confidential informants over the past two months. The judge ordered Doyle released while he awaits trial.

Prosecutors noted one of the weapons sales took place less than a week after his daughter, whose legal name is Melanie Doyle, hosted a party where a shooting broke out, leaving four people dead and 14 more wounded. 



“It's sad and unfortunate that days after this mass shooting, on July 7, the defendant was selling firearms into the streets of Chicago… illegally,” Assistant U.S. attorney Emily Cohen Rossi Vermylen said Friday. 


Judge Laura McNally, concerned by recent reporting on the case, pressed Vermylen to clarify that the U.S. attorney’s office was not alleging Doyle had any involvement in the mass shooting.

Vermylen confirmed they had no evidence connecting Doyle to the attack and were only noting that violence — impacting him personally — did not deter him from “further illegal conduct,” demonstrating the danger he’d pose if released. 


Doyles’ attorney argued that prosecutors only mentioned the mass shooting to “inflame” the situation and that there were plenty of conditions that could prevent him from accessing firearms if released. 



“There has been a significant amount of media attention to this case; anyone with an illegal firearm to sell would have to be an idiot to get within 100 feet of Mr. Doyle,” his attorney, Amanda Penabad said Friday.

Penabad added Doyle has significant concern for his family right now and would not want to cause them any further grief by “doing something like violating his bond."



McNally ultimately agreed with the recommendation that Doyle be released pending trial. 

“The Government argued very strongly for detention…we’re gonna take a leap here together that you will live up to these conditions of bond,” McNally told Doyle. 



Doyle was convicted in 1998 of attempted murder and in 2003 and 2006 for drug charges, and can not possess firearms under Illinois law. McNally noted there appears to be no offense since and “certainly no convictions.” 


Between May and July of this year, Doyle is alleged to have sold 13 firearms to confidential informants with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court Tuesday.




On May 20, Doyle met with two ATF informants at his home in the Washington Park neighborhood and sold them a Glock, according to the affidavit.

Between May 29 and July 7, Doyle met with informants at a Woodlawn home and sold 12 more firearms.

Prosecutors said Friday they plan to appeal Doyle’s release.