A significant emergency operation, featuring ambulances and law enforcement, is currently taking place in Ohio after a shooting incident with several casualties occurred at a well-known historic festival.
Authorities from Toledo and Lucas County, alongside numerous medical teams, swiftly responded to the Old West End Festival shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. They were alerted to an individual being shot near the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Glenwood Avenue.
Upon reaching the scene, officers encountered multiple individuals who had been shot. These victims have since been rushed to local hospitals for medical care.
Eyewitness Kevin Berry shared with the Daily Mail that he saw at least five or six people hit by gunfire. Among the victims, one suffered a graze wound while another was shot in the head.
Berry recounted witnessing an elderly woman collapse, suspecting she might have been experiencing heart attack symptoms amid the chaos.
According to Berry, he heard as many as eight gunshots and noticed a firearm fall to the ground. However, he did not catch a glimpse of the shooter, who he believes escaped on foot.
‘The Toledo Police Department is actively searching for the suspect or suspects involved,’ authorities said in a news release.
Berry said the shooting appeared to come out of nowhere, with the first gunshots heard while the band was still playing. He also shared that it appeared to be entirely random, with no clear target or intent.
A massive emergency response involving ambulances and police is underway in Ohio following a reported shooting with ‘multiple’ victims at the popular Old West End Festival
Police from Toledo and Lucas County, along with multiple medical units, responded to the Old West End Festival just after 5.30pm Saturday
Witness Kevin Berry told the Daily Mail he personally observed at least five or six victims being struck by gunfire
He said he ran around attempting to flag down officers for those who had been struck by gunfire, adding that police reached the scene ‘quickly.’
Tony Toledo, a Defiance, Ohio resident, shared a chilling Facebook post saying he attended the Old West End Festival to relive his college days when shots were fired just 30 feet away from him.
‘I was eating ribs. Dropped the ribs. Every person at the park stopped to the ground. I am ok,’ Toledo wrote.
‘Unknown to me the shooter ran past me ten feet way. He dropped his gun on ground ten feet from me,’ he added. ‘Another attendee was standing over the gun screaming for the police to get it. Cops got it immediately.’
‘People were bleeding. EMTs were called,’ Toledo wrote, adding that he learned two people had died, though that detail has not yet been confirmed by police.
‘There was a cop waving an automatic rifle screaming for us to leave the park,’ he said. ‘He didn’t need to tell me twice.’
Police have since closed Detroit Avenue near West Delaware Avenue.
The multi-agency response includes Toledo police, Lucas County Sheriff’s deputies, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Toledo Fire and Rescue.
Witness Berry said he heard up to eight gunshots and saw a gun drop, but did not see the shooter, who he believed fled on foot
Witness Berry said the shooting appeared to come out of nowhere, with the first gunshots heard while the band was still playing
‘The investigation currently includes scenes in the area of Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue,’ Toledo Police Department said.
‘Residents and visitors are asked to avoid the area and expect a significant police presence as officers continue their search and investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident,’ they added.
The incident comes as Toledo hosts its 53rd West End Festival, described as the ‘biggest party of the year’ celebrating ‘one of the largest historic districts in the country.’
Live music, dozens of food vendors, a beer garden, house tours and shopping kicked off with the King Wamba Carnival Parade on Saturday morning, opening the two-day event.
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