Twelve people were hit by gunfire, including two who were critically injured, during a shooting near a popular neighborhood festival in Toledo on June 6.
Police believe the incident occurred when at least two people began shooting at each other at the Old West End festival. No fatalities had been reported, police said, and no suspects were in custody.
What is the Old West End festival in Toledo?
The shooting occurred at the Old West End Festival, a longstanding community event that draws thousands of visitors to one of Toledo’s most historic neighborhoods. Each year, the Historic Old West End Festival features house tours of Victorian homes, a parade, art fair and neighborhood-wide yard sales.
The Old West End Association, which puts on the festival, announced on its website that it was canceling the event on June 7 following the June 6 shooting.
What is the Old West End neighborhood of Toledo?
The Old West End neighborhood is one of the “largest collections of Victorian, Edwardian and arts and crafts homes in the United States,” according to the festivals website. It serves “as a showcase of architectural styles popular with Americans around the turn of the century.”
Located just minutes westbound from downtown Toledo, the neighborhood was developed late 19th and early 20th centuries using a variety of architectural styles to construct mansions primarily between 1875 and 1915, according to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
The Old West End was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the boundaries of the district were enlarged in 1984, according to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.
Gunfire erupts at festival
According to USA Today, Officers with the Toledo Police Department responded around 5:37 p.m. to reports of a shooting in the area of Delaware and Glenwood avenues near the annual Old West End Festival.
The department said investigators are actively searching for the suspects involved in the shooting. Authorities said they have collected evidence, but are asking for those who attended the festival to share any photos or video they may have.
When officers arrived, they found multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said several victims were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Police said the ages of those shot ranged from 61 to 14 years old.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A look at the Old West End festival, where 12 were shot in Toledo
Reporting by Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
