Toledo festival shooting: Multiple people injured, suspects sought
TOLEDO, Ohio - Police said multiple people were shot Saturday afternoon near a community street festival in Toledo, Ohio.
What we know:
Toledo police officers responded to a report of a person shot near the Old West End Festival at about 5:30 p.m. When they arrived, they found multiple shooting victims, the police department said in a statement.
Deputy Chief Joseph Heffernan said twelve people were shot, two critically.
Many victims have been taken to nearby hospitals, police said. Police did not provide further details on the injuries and how many people were shot.
Multiple people shot at Old West End festival in Toledo, Ohio
No press conference is currently expected Saturday night, but local media is reporting 8 victims, all of which are expected to survive.
What we don't know:
Police are actively searching for suspects and the working to determine the circumstances of the shootings.
Multiple people were shot Saturday evening near Toledo's Old West End Festival, prompting a large police response and an ongoing search for suspects.
Big picture view:
The Old West End Festival is a two-day celebration in Toledo’s historic district that includes live music, food vendors, home tours and shopping.
The Toledo Police Department did not immediately respond to emails and phone messages Saturday evening seeking more information.
MercyHealth, which operates several hospitals in the area, referred all questions to the police department.
Police are actively searching for suspects and the working to determine the circumstances of the shootings.
What they're saying:
"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 Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement.
"Everybody hit the deck," said Kevin Berry, who was sitting in a nearby arboretum and listening to live music with his friends when the gunshots rang out. He also spotted a gun being tossed onto the ground about 50 feet from where he was.
Barry, a Navy veteran with medical training, went to look for potential victims to see if he could help. He reported seeing five people who suffered gunshot wounds.
"The folks who were hit were spread out around the arboretum area," he added.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information comes from a statement released by the Toledo Police Department. This story was reported from Los Angeles.