TOLEDO, Ohio, June 7 (ANI) — At least 12 people were injured, including two critically, after gunfire erupted near a popular community festival in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday evening, according to local authorities and U.S. media reports.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. local time on June 6 near the Old West End Festival, an annual event featuring live music, food vendors, historic home tours, and community activities, ABC News reported.
“At approximately 5:37 p.m., Toledo Police officers responded to a report of a person shot in the area of Delaware Avenue and Glenwood Avenue near the Old West End Festival. Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple shooting victims. Many victims have been transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment. The Toledo Police Department is actively searching for the suspect or suspects involved,” the Toledo Police Department said in a post on X.
According to Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan, the shooting appeared to involve at least two individuals exchanging gunfire.
“It appears as though there were at least two shooters. I think they were probably shooting at each other,” Heffernan told reporters during a late-night press briefing.
The victims range in age from 14 to 61, with most of those injured in their early 20s. Two individuals remain in critical condition at local hospitals, while the remaining victims suffered injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
The sudden violence sent hundreds of festival attendees scrambling for safety. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as rapid gunfire echoed through the Agnes Reynolds Jackson Arboretum, according to CNN.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed concern over the shooting in a social media post.
“Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence. Fran and I are praying for everyone impacted by the incident at the Old West End Festival,” DeWine said.
Despite the severity of the incident, all of the victims are expected to survive, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told CNN affiliate WTOL.
The Old West End Festival is a two-day celebration held in Toledo’s historic district and features live entertainment, food vendors, home tours, shopping, and community events. (ANI)
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