Multiple people shot near Ohio festival as police hunt gunman

At least one gunman opened fire near a historic festival in Toledo, Ohio, on Saturday evening, sending panicked crowds fleeing as police launched a frantic manhunt for the suspect or suspects involved. Officers responded at approximately 5:37 p.m. local time to a report of a person shot in the area of Delaware Avenue and Glenwood Avenue, near the Old West End Festival — a two-day celebration of one of the largest historic districts in the country, featuring live music, food markets, a beer garden and house tours. Upon arrival, police discovered multiple shooting victims, many of whom were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment, the Toledo police department said in a statement on X. The number of injured was not confirmed, and no deaths were immediately announced. “We were walking to our car and walked through the corner where it occurred and my wife said we need to go now,” John Beatrice, who was at the festival, told The Independent in a Facebook message. “Unfortunately we didn't see the events, other than hearing the gunshots and commotion behind us as we hurried towards our vehicle and made our way out of the area.” One potential witness wrote on social media that the suspects shot about “4-5 people” during a fight between groups of teenagers. “Group of kids were fighting, one pulled a gun and wildly shot,” they said, though the claim could not be verified. Another festival-goer, Facebook user Bob Grand Lubell, described heavy police presence before the shooting: “It was packed with teenagers at 5:00. Before the shooting the police presence was very heavy. Still, not enough.” A large police presence was spotted on Detroit Avenue near West Delaware Avenue, which was closed to traffic. The investigation currently includes scenes in the area of Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue, and residents and visitors have been asked to avoid the area. The Toledo police department is actively searching for the suspect or suspects involved, and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. The motive and circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation.