Authorities in Toledo, Ohio are entering the third day of their hunt for the gunman who opened fire at a cultural festival on Saturday, leaving a dozen people wounded and no suspects in custody.
All 12 victims, ranging from age 14 to 61, were reported in stable condition as of Sunday evening. The shooting erupted during the Old West End festival, a celebration featuring live music, food vendors, and tours of historic homes in the city's downtown district.
Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said investigators believe at least two people fired weapons during the attack. Evidence suggests they may have been shooting at each other, he told reporters at a Sunday briefing. Detectives have released no suspect descriptions and made no arrests.
Video shared on social media captured the chaos as spectators fled the gunfire. Hundreds of people had been on hand for the two-day festival, which was canceled after Saturday's violence. Festival organizers said continuing operations "would not be compassionate, responsible or possible" under the circumstances.
Eyewitness Kevin Berry told reporters he watched a gun hit the ground near him and saw at least five gunshot victims being treated by emergency responders positioned among the festival's colorful tents and food trucks.
Police are asking anyone with information or video footage of the shooting to come forward. In a social media post Sunday, the department said investigators are "following multiple leads" and continuing to build a timeline of events.
The county prosecutor addressed the community in a statement vowing accountability. "Justice will be swift and strong," she said. "Those who were frightened, traumatized or harmed by this violence will remain at the forefront of our efforts. I've felt outrage before, but this is personal. This is my home. These are my friends and neighbors. It is not OK."
Toledo sits about 55 miles southwest of Detroit in northwest Ohio near Lake Erie. The shooting is among multiple incidents of gun violence that struck different American cities over the weekend. Kansas City, Missouri police were investigating a separate shooting Saturday that wounded nine adults near the location where England's World Cup soccer team will be based later this week. In Cleveland, five people were shot during a card game early Sunday, with all victims in stable condition and no suspect arrested.
Author James Rodriguez: "The fact that no suspects are in custody three days out from a shooting that wounded a dozen people shows how quickly these scenes get complicated once the crowd scatters and the shock wears off."
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