12 Shot Near Toledo Festival; Two Suspects Sought

Toledo police are searching for at least two gunmen who opened fire near the Old West End Festival on Saturday evening, wounding 12 people in what officers described as an unusually violent outburst even by the standards of recent local incidents. The shooting occurred around 5:37 p.m. near the popular two-day event that draws families for live music, food markets, and historic home tours in one of the city's largest preserved neighborhoods.

Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said the evidence points to two individuals firing at each other, with stray bullets striking bystanders ranging in age from 14 to 61. Two victims remain in critical condition while the rest are reported stable. No arrests have been made hours after the incident, and authorities continue to review security footage and appeal for public tips.

Lieutenant Dan Gerken, who responded to the scene, expressed alarm at the scale of the violence. He told reporters that 12 people shot in one exchange exceeds anything he has encountered in years on the job. Officers found shell casings scattered across the area and spoke with multiple victims who described sudden chaos as shots rang out. One witness, Tito Aguilar, said he was ordering food when a group of juveniles began attacking another young person. He started recording on his phone moments before the gunfire erupted, forcing him to run for cover.

Videos shared online captured people screaming and fleeing as the shots continued. Emergency crews faced delays reaching some victims because roads were clogged with festivalgoers trying to leave. Fire Chief Allison Armstrong noted that all patients were eventually transported within an hour despite the traffic. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a statement expressing concern that summer festivals, meant to be safe gatherings for families, are now sites of random gunfire.

The Old West End Festival had been underway without incident until the confrontation escalated near a busy intersection. Police have not released names of the victims or suspects and are urging anyone with additional video from phones to come forward. Community members who attended the event described a sudden shift from a relaxed atmosphere of music and food vendors to panic as people ducked behind cars and buildings.

With suspects still at large, Toledo residents face an open investigation into what began as a localized fight among young people and ended with a dozen individuals hit by bullets. Officers continue to process evidence from the scene while the city works to restore a sense of security in the historic district.