Police in the United States are searching for suspects after at least 12 people were shot near a festival in Toledo, Ohio.
According to the Toledo Police Department, 10 victims were reported to be in stable condition, while two others remained in critical condition.
Authorities said officers responded to reports of gunfire near the Old West End Festival at about 5:37 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe Heffernan said preliminary findings suggested that two individuals exchanged gunfire during the incident.
Videos circulating online, which the BBC said it had not independently verified, appeared to capture scenes of panic as festival-goers fled while multiple gunshots rang out.
Police said the victims ranged in age from 16 to 61 years old. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz earlier told local broadcaster WTOL 11 that all victims were expected to survive.
An eyewitness, Tito Aguilar, told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, that he was ordering food when he noticed a group of “juveniles” assaulting another young person.
Aguilar said he began recording the altercation on his phone before suddenly hearing gunfire. He said he ran from the scene but later returned to search for friends and saw several injured people.
Police Lt Dan Gerken expressed concern over the scale of the shooting.
“Twelve people being shot, that’s the most I’ve been to a scene. I’ve been to a lot of scenes, but this is way over the top,” he told reporters.
Gerken added that investigators were interviewing victims and witnesses while also reviewing surveillance footage. He appealed to residents to provide any useful information.
The Old West End Festival describes itself as “a two-day event celebrating one of the largest historic districts in the country with live music, multiple food markets, a beer garden, house tours, shopping, and much more”.
Reacting to the violence, Heffernan told reporters: “It’s just a shame a few people, for whatever reasons going through their head, decide to disrupt something that has been a beloved community event for many, many, many years.”
“It’s just… horrible.”
Police said the investigation was focused around Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue, where the festival map showed a designated music and food area.
Additional clips shared online appeared to show emergency responders wheeling away injured victims on stretchers, while others lay wounded on a grassy area near a tent.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also reacted to the incident in a statement posted on social media.
“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight,” he said.
“Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence. Fran and I are praying for everyone impacted by the incident at the Old West End Festival, and we are confident that law enforcement will locate the suspects involved in this senseless crime.”
