Multiple people were shot on Saturday afternoon near a community street festival in Toledo, Ohio in the United States. According to police, several victims were taken to nearby hospitals after gunfire erupted close to the annual Old West End Festival, prompting a major emergency response and a search for the suspects.Toledo Police said officers responded to reports of a shooting near the festival at around 5.30 pm local time. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.While authorities initially did not disclose the exact number of people injured, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz later said that eight people had been shot and were all expected to survive. Police said many victims had been transported to local hospitals for treatment, according to Associated Press.Investigation is currently under way and efforts are ongoing to identify the suspect. A significant police presence was maintained in the area as officers continued their investigation.The incident unfolded during the Old West End Festival, a popular two-day community event held in Toledo’s historic district. The annual festival features live music, food vendors, shopping and home tours. The festival is regarded as the unofficial start of the city’s summer festival season.Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as gunshots rang out among crowds attending the event.Kevin Berry, who was listening to live music with friends in a nearby arboretum when the shooting occurred, recalled hearing several gunshots before chaos erupted.“Everybody hit the deck,” Berry said.Berry said that when he looked up, he saw a firearm being thrown to the ground less than 50 feet away, while police officers already deployed at the festival rushed towards the scene.A US Navy veteran with medical training, Berry said he immediately began searching for injured people who might require assistance.“The folks who were hit were spread out around the arboretum area,” he said. Berry added that he personally saw at least five people with gunshot wounds.Other festival-goers told local media they heard multiple rounds of gunfire and witnessed people running in panic.Reacting to the incident, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said summer festivals should remain safe spaces for families and expressed confidence that law enforcement would identify those responsible.The shooting is among at least 170 mass shootings recorded in the United States this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot.Police have urged the public to avoid the area while investigations continue and have appealed for information that could assist in locating the suspects.
