A mass shooting near Toledo’s Old West End Festival in Ohio on Saturday evening left at least 12 people injured, prompting a large-scale police response and an active search for the suspects.

The shooting occurred around 5.30 pm near the annual Old West End Festival, a popular community celebration held in one of the largest Victorian-era neighbourhoods in the United States.

According to the Toledo Police Department, officers responding to reports of gunfire found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

Authorities confirmed that numerous injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

While officials initially described the incident as involving ‘many victims’, they did not immediately release details about the exact number of people wounded or the severity of their injuries.

Later reports indicated that at least 12 people had been hurt in the shooting. Police said the suspect or suspects fled the area after the gunfire erupted and remain at large. Investigators launched a search operation and continued to gather evidence from the scene late into the evening.

Residents and visitors were urged to avoid the area as officers worked to secure the location and determine what had led to the violence.

The Toledo Police Department said it is actively searching for those responsible and promised to provide additional updates through its official Facebook and X accounts.

Authorities have not yet disclosed a possible motive for the shooting. The violence unfolded during the Old West End Festival, an annual two-day event that attracts residents and visitors to Toledo’s historic district.

The festival began Saturday morning with a parade and featured live music, food vendors, beer gardens, home tours, local artisans and other community activities scheduled throughout the weekend.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the gunfire rang out. Speaking to CNN affiliate WTOL, two festivalgoers said they were enjoying the event when they suddenly heard multiple shots and saw people scrambling for safety.

‘Once I heard, ‘Everybody get back,’ everybody was falling, everybody tripping, couldn’t see what it was, couldn’t see nothing,’ one witness told the station while requesting anonymity.

Another festival attendee said he heard at least 10 shots fired as panic spread through the crowd.

The shooting has drawn widespread attention because it occurred during a major community event, with law enforcement now focused on identifying and apprehending those involved.