Shooting in Toledo, Ohio: 12 injured, search continues for shooter

On June 6, 2026, a shooting occurred near Agnes Reynolds Jackson Park in the Glenwood and Delaware area of ​​Toledo, Ohio, during the annual Old West End Fest. According to authorities, at least two unknown individuals opened fire, likely targeting each other. Twelve people were injured, two of whom were critically injured, but their condition has now stabilized, according to The Guardian.

Police received a report of shots fired at around 17:37 p.m. local time.

The victims included people of all ages, mostly young people. Festival participants fled in panic, but police quickly arrived on the scene and provided assistance.

According to law enforcement officials, the search for suspects continues.

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Organizers of the festival in the city's historic center have cancelled all events scheduled for June 7.

Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joseph Heffernan said the shooters apparently opened fire on each other. The shooting began shortly after 17:30 p.m. near the Old West End Festival, an annual event featuring live music and historical tours.

No arrests have been made so far, and police are asking festivalgoers to hand over any photos or videos from their phones that might assist the investigation.

The wounded ranged in age from 14 to 61, most of them young. Several hundred people were present at the festival at the time of the shooting.

Authorities said extra police were deployed to the event, with a significant number of off-duty officers working at the festival itself.

"It's a shame when a few people, for whatever reason, decide to disrupt an event that has been an important part of the community for many years," Heffernan said.

The festival organizers also weighed in: "Too often we turn on the news and learn that somewhere a festival has ended in tragedy. Now such news has come from our region. We are shocked by what happened to the victims at the Old West End Festival."

After discussing the incident with city authorities and the police, the organizers concluded: “We believe that continuing the festival under these conditions would be wrong and irresponsible.”

One video posted online shows patrons panicking and running for cover as gunfire erupts. Another video shows a young man walking down the street with a bleeding wound to his side, then sitting down on the ground.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said on Saturday, "I am gravely concerned about the situation in Toledo. Summer festivals must be a safe place."

Ohio Senator Jon Husted also expressed his opinion on social media. He called the incident "senseless violence" and thanked law enforcement for "responding quickly, protecting the people of this state, and continuing to search for the suspects and bring them to justice."

Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong emphasized that transporting victims to hospitals was difficult due to road closures and the flow of people leaving the festival.

Taking into account the Toledo shooting, the number of mass shootings in the United States since the beginning of the year has exceeded 170, according to the non-profit Gun Violence Archive. They define mass shootings as incidents in which four or more people are injured or killed.

The high rate of such crimes in the United States has for many years prompted calls for stricter gun control at the federal level. However, Congress has failed to pass any such restrictions.

The evening before this event, on the evening of June 5, another incident occurred at another Ohio festival, Funfest, held at St. Catherine's Catholic Church. Around 19:00 PM in Columbus, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Toledo, a fight broke out at the event, which was attended by approximately 500 to 800 teenagers.

Columbus police said there were reports of shots fired, but no weapon was found.

The church decided to end the festival early.

Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler said: "Violence has no place in public spaces, but when organising large gatherings, the risk must be taken into account and prepared for in advance.

There are measures that can significantly reduce this risk. We will ensure their implementation at future festivals and review our own events based on the lessons learned."

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Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant condemned the so-called street takeovers:

"We will not tolerate street takeovers, dangerous driving, riots, vandalism, assaults, or any actions that threaten the safety of residents and visitors. Lawlessness has no place in our city!"

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