A mass shooting that left 12 people wounded on Saturday afternoon at a summer festival in Ohio stemmed from “a dispute involving two rival groups,” according to police.
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Gunfire rang out just after 5:30 p.m. near the Old West End Festival in Toledo from at least two gunmen, police said over the weekend. A dozen people were hurt, with the oldest victim being 61 and the youngest 14, police Lt. Dan Gerken said Saturday, noting most were in their early 20s.
Police Chief Michael Troendle said Tuesday that a dispute between rival groups led to a physical altercation that ultimately escalated to an exchange of gunfire.
“While investigators believe some of the victims are intentionally targeted, the majority of those injured appear to have been innocent bystanders caught up in this senseless act of violence,” Troendle said during a news briefing.
Detectives have continued conducting interviews since the incident and “identified several persons of interest,” Troendle said. The gunmen police believe to be responsible are still at large.
Two firearms Troendle said are believed to be connected to the shooting were also recovered from the scene and are being examined.
“While there’s still work to be done, I can tell you that investigators continue to make progress,” Troendle said.
