12 injured in Toledo shooting, suspect on the run
At least 12 people suffered gunshot wounds, two seriously, in a shooting near a neighborhood festival in Toledo, Ohio.
Police in Ohio continue to search for at least two suspects accused of raining bullets down near a popular neighborhood festival in Toledo, injuring at least 12 people.
Authorities believe the June 6 incident began when at least two people began firing at each other near the Old West End Festival, a long-running community event that draws thousands of tourists each year to one of Toledo’s most historic neighborhoods.
Organizers canceled the June 7 festival event and law enforcement asked residents to avoid the area while they searched for the suspect, collected evidence at the extensive scene and determined the cause of the shooting.
Officials called on festival attendees and people in northwest Ohio communities to share information about the violence that has rocked the region. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show festival goers running away from gunfire as chaos erupted.
“As investigators continue to investigate yesterday’s shooting near the Old West End Festival, we are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have photos, video, or other information to come forward,” police spokesperson Mohammad Nasser said in a statement to USA TODAY. “Community members continue to play a critical role in helping investigators identify those responsible.”
What happened in the Toledo festival shooting incident?
Toledo Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting in the north part of the city near the festival at 5:37 p.m. ET. There was already a large police presence at the scene, including off-duty police officers working for the festival, and some officers heard gunshots.
When more first responders arrived, they found multiple people who had been shot and transported several victims to local hospitals.
“It was excessive in terms of violence,” said Lt. Dan Gerken of the Toledo Police Department.
Eyewitness testimony emerges
Kevin Berry told The Associated Press that he was listening to live music with friends at the festival when the shooting occurred. “Everyone was on deck,” he said.
Berry said he saw guns thrown to the ground near a nearby arboretum, injuring at least five people.
Tito Aguilar told CBS News he was buying food when the confrontation broke out and his cell phone started recording him. Aguilar told the news outlet that he fled when gunshots rang out, but returned to the scene to look for his friends and saw several injured people.
Who are the victims?
Police have not released the identities of those injured in the shooting. Gerken said based on interviews, the ages of those shot ranged from 61 to 14.
Ohio authorities condemn ‘senseless’ Toledo shooting
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he was “deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo.”
“Summer festivals should be a safe place for families to come together without fear of violence,” DeWine wrote in a post on X. “Fran and I are praying for everyone affected by the incident at the Old West End Festival. We are confident that law enforcement will find the suspects involved in this senseless crime.”
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapuszkiewicz said on the X Show that Toledo has faced “more adversity than most cities over the years, and our citizens always come together to overcome it.” He noted that many urban areas have faced mass gun violence in recent years.
“But we should never shrug our shoulders and accept that as the price of living in a free society,” Kapzukiewicz said. “As a nation, we must do better. Toledo is resilient and will emerge stronger because of the unity we show in this moment.”
Contributor: Cole Behrens, The Columbus Dispatch
