A shooting at an outdoor festival in Toledo, Ohio, left 12 people wounded Saturday evening, prompting police to launch a manhunt that stretched into Sunday with no arrests made.
The violence erupted just after 5:30 p.m. near the Old West End Festival, an annual event featuring live music and architectural tours in the city's historic center. Toledo police deputy chief Joseph Heffernan said the shooters were "probably shooting at each other" when the gunfire broke out.
At least two shooters remain at large. Heffernan said two victims are in critical condition, while the remaining injured range in age from 14 to 61, though most are in their early 20s. Several hundred people were gathered at the festival when the shots rang out.
Video footage captured the moment panic swept through the crowd as attendees scattered for cover. One clip posted to social media showed a young man walking down a nearby street with blood streaming from a wound to his side before collapsing to sit down.
Police have appealed to attendees for help, asking festival goers to submit any photos or videos they captured on their phones that might yield investigative leads. Despite the presence of extra officers and off-duty police working festival security, authorities have made no arrests as of Sunday.
Festival organizers canceled all remaining events for Sunday. In a statement, they expressed anguish over what unfolded, saying it was heartbreaking that a beloved community tradition had become the site of tragedy. "We are deeply sad about what happened here," organizers said, noting they made the decision not to continue "after discussions with Toledo civic and police authorities."
Deputy Chief Heffernan voiced his frustration at the disruption to the community event. "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," he said.
The shooting added to what is already a grim year for mass gun violence in America. The Gun Violence Archive has tracked more than 170 mass shootings across the country so far in 2024, using the definition of four or more victims wounded or killed.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a statement Saturday expressing deep concern about the incident. "Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence," he said. U.S. Senator Jon Husted called the violence "senseless" and thanked law enforcement for their swift response.
The shooting also complicated emergency response efforts. Toledo fire chief Allison Armstrong said it was difficult to transport victims to hospitals because of closed roads and heavy traffic as panicked festival goers fled the scene.
The Toledo shooting was not the only festival violence to emerge in Ohio over the weekend. A church festival in east Columbus was shut down early Friday night after fights broke out among the estimated 500 to 800 teenagers attending. Police responded to reports of gunshots, though no weapon was recovered.
Bexley mayor Ben Kessler said that while violence has no place in community spaces, organizers must now consider and plan around the potential for such incidents. "There are controls that can be put into place to greatly reduce this risk," Kessler said, adding that city officials would work to encourage safety measures at future events.
Author James Rodriguez: "Two major festivals disrupted by violence in the same weekend shows the challenge community organizers now face when planning outdoor events."
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