Several people were injured in a shooting near a community festival in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday, prompting police to launch an intensive manhunt for the suspects.
Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said at least 12 people were wounded, with two in critical condition. He added that preliminary investigations suggest at least two individuals were firing weapons and were "probably shooting at each other," according to the Associated Press.
"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," Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said in a statement.
Videos shared on social media showed people scrambling for safety as gunshots rang out, while emergency responders rushed to assist those who had been injured.
Toledo Lt. Dan Gerken, who spoke to victims ranging in age from 14 to 61, urged residents to speak with their children and share any information they may have about the shooting.
“If we get help from the community, it’ll be hopefully sooner than later,” Gerken said, referring to efforts to identify and apprehend the suspects.
A CNN report noted that the neighborhood’s historic streets were littered with abandoned sneakers, plastic cups and overturned coolers left behind in the chaos. They all belonged to festival-goers who had gathered to enjoy music, food and time with friends before being forced to flee for cover.
The Old West End Festival is a two-day celebration held in Toledo’s historic district, featuring live music, food vendors, home tours and shopping. The shooting marks another instance of public gun violence in the United States, where community festivals, family gatherings and graduation celebrations have increasingly been disrupted by gunfire.
