Shooting leaves 12 injured near festival in Toledo, Ohio; two suspects flee

Twelve people were wounded by gunfire near the Old West End Festival in Toledo, Ohio. Two attackers remain at large, according to authorities.

Two attackers at large after shooting at Toledo community festival

Twelve people were shot on Saturday night near the Old West End Festival in Toledo, Ohio, two of them seriously, according to cnnespanol.cnn.com. No suspects have been arrested so far.

Toledo Police Deputy Chief Joe Heffernan indicated at a press conference that there apparently were two attackers who "were probably shooting at each other". All victims are expected to survive, according to Toledo mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, who spoke to CNN affiliate WTOL.

Police asked the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues. A significant presence of officers remains deployed at the scene.

Witnesses describe the chaos

Kevin Berry, who said he had medical training and had served in the United States Navy, told The Associated Press that he was sitting in the neighbourhood's arboretum listening to live music with friends when he heard several shots.

"Everyone hit the ground," said Berry. When he looked up, he saw someone throw a weapon to the ground less than 15 metres from where he was standing, whilst officers already present at the festival ran towards the scene. Berry said he saw at least five people with gunshot wounds.

Two other attendees, who asked to remain anonymous, described the scene to WTOL as total chaos. "Once I heard: 'Everyone back', everyone was falling, everyone was tripping; I couldn't see what it was, I couldn't see anything," one of them recounted. The other said he had heard at least 10 shots.

A celebration turned crime scene

The historic streets of the neighbourhood were covered with abandoned trainers, plastic cups and overturned coolers, belongings of people who had come out to share drinks and music before being forced to flee.

Ohio governor Mike DeWine spoke out on X: "Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence. We trust that local law enforcement will locate the suspects involved in this senseless crime".

The shooting is among at least 170 mass shootings recorded in the United States so far this year, according to Gun Violence Archive, an organisation that defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more victims are shot.

The festival, an annual event in the historic district

The Old West End Festival is a two-day celebration in Toledo's historic district, which is home to one of the largest Victorian house neighbourhoods in the country. Saturday's schedule included a morning parade, live music and food stands. CNN contacted Toledo police for additional information.

Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)