US: 12 shot near Ohio festival, gunmen still at large

At least 12 people were wounded as armed suspects opened fire near a busy street festival in Ohio in the United States, sending several eventgoers scrambling for cover.

As of now, no suspects have been taken into custody, Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said, The Associated Press reported.

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At approximately 5:37 p.m., Toledo Police officers responded to a report of a person shot in the area of Delaware Avenue and Glenwood Avenue near the Old West End Festival. Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple shooting victims. Many victims have been transported to nearby… pic.twitter.com/Ev6Wbkv40f

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— Toledo Police (@Toledo_PD) June 6, 2026

Officials have urged people present at the festival to come forward and share photographs and video on their phones that could provide possible leads.

The shooting occurred near the Old West End Festival, an annual gathering that witnesses large footfalls.

🇺🇸⚡️- The mass shooting at the Old West End Festival in Toledo, Ohio has left 12 people shot, at least two in critical condition, and police still searching for the shooters.

The Deputy Police Chief said it appears that two people were shooting, and they believe they were firing…

— فيصل ابراهيم الشمري (@Mr_Alshammeri) June 7, 2026

Heffernan informed that initial investigation in the matter suggested that at least two people fired weapons and they were “probably shooting at each other.” The official added that two of the victims were in critical condition, while the ages of the victims ranges from from 14 to 61 – most of them are in their early 20s.

“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.

In several images and clips shared on social media, people can be seen running amid the sound of gunshots, while emergency officials were attending people who appeared wounded.

Shots Fired at Old West End #Festival in #Toledo, Ohio

Video shows the moment gunfire erupted near the festival.

Multiple victims reported. Shooter still at large.#Ohio #femboy pic.twitter.com/ooXKwUQxPo

— World Monitoring Center (@WMC_WORLD) June 7, 2026

Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said they faced difficulty in reaching the hospital on time due to closed roads as well as traffic from people leaving the festival. He added that emergency responders were somehow able to transport all the injured persons from the scene within an hour.

The Old West End Festival is a two-day celebration in Toledo’s historic district that takes place every year. It includes live music, food vendors, home tours and shopping.