Multiple people were shot near a busy community street festival in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday afternoon, and a search for the suspects was ongoing as victims were taken to nearby hospitals, police said.
Incident Details
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.
Police said “many victims” were transported to medical facilities but did not provide further details on the injuries or the number of people shot. Authorities also did not provide any details on what may have triggered the shooting.
Witness Account
Kevin Berry said he was sitting in the neighborhood arboretum listening to live music with his friends when he heard a handful of gunshots ring out. “Everybody hit the deck,” he said. When he looked back up, he saw a gun being tossed to the ground less than 50 feet away from him. Police officers who were already on-site for the festival immediately responded to the scene.
Berry, who has medical training and served in the U.S. Navy, said he walked around the area looking for potential victims who might need help. He said he saw at least five people with gunshot wounds. “The folks who were hit were spread out around the arboretum area,” he said.
Hospital Response
Mercy Health, which operates several hospitals in and around Toledo, deferred all media inquiries to the police department.
Festival Background
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. Berry described it as the “kick-off to Toledo’s summer festival season.”
Police continue to investigate and urge anyone with information to come forward.
