At least a dozen people have been shot and wounded after two gunmen opened fire at each other at a family-friendly festival in Ohio. Police responded to the chaos at the Old West End Festival in Toledo around 5:40 pm on Saturday local time, finding 12 people wounded, including two critically.
Many of the victims, who ranged in age from 61 to 14, were taken to various hospitals. Police are actively searching for the shooters. The gunfire came from two suspects who were “probably shooting at each other,” according to Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan.
In a press conference three hours after the attack, Heffernan described the situation as “just horrible” and urged the public to come forward with any evidence to help their investigation. “It’s just a shame when a few people … decide to disrupt something that has been a beloved community event for many, many, many years,” he said. “This is a perfect example of how when bullets start flying, they can go anywhere, they can strike anybody.”
When asked how many people were affected by the tragedy, Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said “at least 13” but authorities were “still getting numbers.” Toledo Police Lieutenant Dan Gerken gave an age range for the victims, saying the oldest person was 61 and the youngest was 14.
Confronting footage on social media showed festival-goers fleeing from the sound of gunfire and tending to the wounded. “Everybody hit the deck,” witness Kevin Berry told local media. Berry was sitting in the neighbourhood arboretum listening to live music with his mates when he heard gunshots ring out and dove for cover. When he looked back up, he saw a gun being discarded on the ground less than 15 metres away from him. “The folks who were hit were spread out around the arboretum area,” he said.
Other horrific footage captured a man who was shot on the side of his torso walking down the street in his blood-soaked white T-shirt. “Be still, sit down man,” a panicked witness told the victim. “Call the hospital,” another bystander chimed in before the shell-shocked man finally plopped down on the grass to wait for help. First responders sprinted down the street and frantically wheeled stretchers carrying bloodied festival attendees into ambulances, according to other graphic videos.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said in a statement: “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.” Toledo Councilman John Hobbs III said that what took place at the iconic annual festival was “not a reflection of what our city is and what we stand for.” “We are hoping that as a community, we will come together and get this solved quickly,” he said. “There has to be a tone set early on … that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.”
The festival celebrates the Old West End neighbourhood, one of the largest historic districts in the US, with live music, food, drinks, art and shopping.
