Twelve people were wounded in a shooting near the Old West End Festival in Toledo, Ohio on Saturday evening, with police continuing their search for at least two suspects on Sunday. Two victims remain in critical condition following the attack.
The gunfire erupted just after 5:30pm near the festival, an annual community event featuring live music and architectural home tours in the historic center of Toledo. According to Toledo police deputy chief Joseph Heffernan, the shooters were "probably shooting at each other" when the violence occurred. Several hundred people were attending the festival at the time.
The victims ranged in age from 14 to 61 years old, with most in their early 20s. No suspects had been taken into custody by Sunday as the investigation entered its second day. Law enforcement officials asked festival attendees to share any photos or videos from their phones that might provide leads in locating the shooters.
The shooting prompted festival organizers to cancel all planned Sunday events. In a statement, organizers expressed their heartbreak over the injuries and explained their decision to shut down the remainder of the festival. "We feel that it would not be compassionate, responsible or possible to continue the festival," they said, acknowledging that celebrations across the country have increasingly become targets for violence.
Police had assigned extra officers to the festival, and a significant number of off-duty officers were working as security for the event. Despite these precautions, the shooting still occurred. Fire chief Allison Armstrong noted that it was challenging to transport victims to area hospitals because roads were closed and traffic was congested as people fled the festival.
Deputy Chief Heffernan expressed frustration about the incident, saying it was unfortunate when individuals "decide to disrupt something that has been a beloved community event for many, many, many years."
Ohio governor Mike DeWine responded to the shooting with a statement expressing deep concern about the violence. "Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence," DeWine said. Ohio senator Jon Husted also commented on the incident, calling the violence senseless and thanking law enforcement for their quick response and ongoing efforts to locate the suspects.
The Toledo shooting represents one of more than 170 mass shootings that have occurred in the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people are wounded or killed. The high frequency of such incidents has prompted repeated calls for stronger federal gun control measures, though Congress has not implemented substantial restrictions.