Ohio authorities are conducting an intensive manhunt after at least 12 people were shot Saturday evening at the Old West End Festival in Toledo, an annual community event that draws families to the city’s historic district. Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joseph Heffernan said in a press conference that investigators believe two or more gunmen opened fire, apparently aiming at each other, and that no suspects have been taken into custody.
The shooting was first reported at 5:37 p.m. local time, and police quickly converged on the scene. Heffernan noted that extra officers were already on duty for the festival, along with off-duty personnel working the event, and that mobile security cameras feeding into the department’s real-time crime center were active. “It happened very quickly, but it also stopped pretty quickly, as there was a lot of officers that were right there,” he said.
Victims range in age from 14 to 61, with most in their early 20s. Two individuals remain in critical condition, Heffernan said. The festival, a two-day event featuring live music and food vendors, was immediately shut down as police began collecting evidence and reviewing footage to identify the shooters.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, issued a statement Saturday evening expressing alarm. “I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight. Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence,” he said. “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.”
The shooting follows a pattern of gun violence erupting at public gatherings across the country, raising renewed questions about safety at community events. The Trump-backed July 4th festival recently lost most acts as artists cited political concerns, highlighting the broader challenge of securing such gatherings amid heightened tensions. Meanwhile, the Senate recently voted to raise the Capitol Police retirement age amid a surge in threats, underscoring the ongoing debate over law enforcement resources and public safety.
Heffernan emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages. “We had extra officers on duty today for the festival, plus there was a large contingency of off-duty officers that were working for the festival itself. We had our mobile security cameras that go right into our real-time crime center active. So there is a lot of evidence,” he said. “It’s just a matter of going through a lot of that evidence.”
The Old West End Festival, a neighborhood staple, is typically a peaceful celebration. The violence has shaken residents and prompted calls for increased security at public events. Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to piece together the sequence of events and track down the perpetrators.
