At least twelve people have been shot near a beloved summer festival in Toledo, Ohio, after two gunmen opened fire on each other in a crowded public space, leaving victims aged between 14 and 61 fighting for their lives as the shooters remained at large on Saturday night.
The shooting erupted just after 5.30pm near the Old West End Festival, an annual community event featuring live music, food markets, a beer garden and activities for children, which had drawn several hundred attendees at the time of the attack. Toledo Police Deputy Chief Joseph Heffernan said at least two shooters were involved and were “probably shooting at each other,” with bystanders caught in the crossfire.
Two of the twelve victims are in a critical condition. Police Lieutenant Dan Gerken said the youngest victim was 14 years old, the oldest 61, with most in their early 20s. The gunmen had not been located by Saturday evening and the investigation remained in its early stages, with officers talking to victims and witnesses and reviewing camera footage from the scene.
The attack occurred despite a significant security presence. Heffernan confirmed that extra police officers had been deployed on duty for the festival and a large number of off-duty officers had been working security for the event itself, with mobile security cameras also in use. The measures were not enough to prevent the violence.
“It’s just a shame when a few people, for whatever reasons going through their head, decide to disrupt something that has been a beloved community event for many, many, many years,” Heffernan said.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he was “deeply concerned” about the shooting and called on law enforcement to locate the suspects. “Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence,” he wrote on X. “Fran and I are praying for everyone impacted by the incident at the Old West End Festival, and we are confident that law enforcement will locate the suspects involved in this senseless crime.”
Whether the festival would reopen on Sunday remained unclear at the time of publication.
