At least 12 people shot at Toledo festival; suspects remain at large, police say

Gunfire erupted Saturday near a busy street festival in Toledo, wounding at least 12 people and sending some eventgoers scrambling for cover while others rushed to help the victims.Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said that no suspects were in custody in the hours after the shooting, with the manhunt now continuing into Sunday morning.Officials are urging people who were at the festival to come forward with any photos or videos on their phones for possible leads.The shooting happened near the Old West End Festival, an annual gathering of live music and home tours.Heffernan said it appeared that at least two people fired weapons and they were “probably shooting at each other.”Two of the victims were in critical condition, Heffernan added. The ages of the victims ranged from 14 to 61, with most of them in their early 20s.“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in a statement shortly after news about the shooting broke. “Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence.”Sen. Jon Husted also took to social media to share a statement, calling the incident “senseless violence.”“Tina and I are praying for everyone impacted by the senseless violence in Toledo tonight. We are grateful for law enforcement who acted quickly to protect Ohioans and are working to locate the suspects and bring them to justice.” Husted shared in his statement.Multiple videos posted to social media showed people running amid the sounds of gunshots and emergency officials tending to others who appeared wounded.Dispatch audio released overnight paints a clearer picture of what took place."We're going to have multiple injuries," an officer could be heard saying at one point. "They have been given tourniquets and gauzes have been applied. We just need medics."See video from the scene in the video player above.Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said it was difficult to get to the hospital due to closed roads and traffic from people leaving the festival, but emergency responders were able to transport all patients from the scene within an hour.Kevin Berry was sitting in the neighborhood arboretum listening to live music with friends when he heard a handful of gunshots ring out.“Everybody hit the deck,” he recalled saying at the time.A few moments later, when Berry looked back up, he says that he saw a gun being tossed to the ground less than 50 feet away from him. Officers who were already on site for the festival responded immediately.Berry, who has medical training and served in the Navy, says that he then walked around looking for anyone who might need help, coming across at least five people with gunshot wounds.“The folks who were hit were spread out around the arboretum area,” he said.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.The remainder of the festival was canceled Sunday. Organizers said “it would not be compassionate, responsible or possible to continue.” “We are heartbroken about those that were injured at the Old West End Festival,” the festival said in a statement. George Kral, safety director for the city, said officials had met with organizers in the hours after the shooting, where they ultimately came to the joint decision that it would be best to cancel the remaining festivities planned for Sunday.“This is one of the most iconic festivals in Toledo,” he said, “and it’s a shame that something like this had to ruin it.”

TOLEDO, Ohio —

Gunfire erupted Saturday near a busy street festival in Toledo, wounding at least 12 people and sending some eventgoers scrambling for cover while others rushed to help the victims.

Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said that no suspects were in custody in the hours after the shooting, with the manhunt now continuing into Sunday morning.

Officials are urging people who were at the festival to come forward with any photos or videos on their phones for possible leads.

The shooting happened near the Old West End Festival, an annual gathering of live music and home tours.

Heffernan said it appeared that at least two people fired weapons and they were “probably shooting at each other.”

Two of the victims were in critical condition, Heffernan added. The ages of the victims ranged from 14 to 61, with most of them in their early 20s.

“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in a statement shortly after news about the shooting broke. “Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence.”

Sen. Jon Husted also took to social media to share a statement, calling the incident “senseless violence.”

“Tina and I are praying for everyone impacted by the senseless violence in Toledo tonight. We are grateful for law enforcement who acted quickly to protect Ohioans and are working to locate the suspects and bring them to justice.” Husted shared in his statement.

Multiple videos posted to social media showed people running amid the sounds of gunshots and emergency officials tending to others who appeared wounded.

Dispatch audio released overnight paints a clearer picture of what took place.

"We're going to have multiple injuries," an officer could be heard saying at one point. "They have been given tourniquets and gauzes have been applied. We just need medics."

See video from the scene in the video player above.

Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said it was difficult to get to the hospital due to closed roads and traffic from people leaving the festival, but emergency responders were able to transport all patients from the scene within an hour.

Kevin Berry was sitting in the neighborhood arboretum listening to live music with friends when he heard a handful of gunshots ring out.

“Everybody hit the deck,” he recalled saying at the time.

A few moments later, when Berry looked back up, he says that he saw a gun being tossed to the ground less than 50 feet away from him. Officers who were already on site for the festival responded immediately.

Berry, who has medical training and served in the Navy, says that he then walked around looking for anyone who might need help, coming across at least five people with gunshot wounds.

“The folks who were hit were spread out around the arboretum area,” he said.

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.

The remainder of the festival was canceled Sunday. Organizers said “it would not be compassionate, responsible or possible to continue.”

“We are heartbroken about those that were injured at the Old West End Festival,” the festival said in a statement.

George Kral, safety director for the city, said officials had met with organizers in the hours after the shooting, where they ultimately came to the joint decision that it would be best to cancel the remaining festivities planned for Sunday.

“This is one of the most iconic festivals in Toledo,” he said, “and it’s a shame that something like this had to ruin it.”