At least 12 injured in exchange of gunfire near Ohio festival, police say


NEW YORK, June ⁠6 (Reuters) - At least a dozen people were wounded on Saturday ⁠in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said.

Two of ‌the wounded are in critical condition, police said at a news conference. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 61, police said.

The incident involved two individuals shooting at ​each other, police said. "I've been to a lot ⁠of scenes, but this is ⁠way over the top," police Lieutenant Dan Gerken told reporters at a press ⁠conference.

A ‌search remains underway for any suspects in what police Deputy Chief Joseph Heffernan called a "pretty active" investigation. "We do have some evidence ⁠and we're following up on some leads," Heffernan said.

Investigators ​are talking to ‌multiple people and reviewing camera footage, Gerken said. George Kral, director ⁠of public safety ​for Toledo, made a public plea for cell phone footage that can help the police find the suspects.

"I know there is information out there," Kral said. "Please ⁠help us help you."

Officers were dispatched around 5:37 ​p.m. following a report of a person shot near the Old West End Festival, the Toledo Police Department said in a Facebook post, adding that "many victims ⁠have been transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment."

Several hundred people were at the event, Kral said. "This is one of the most iconic festivals in Toledo, and it's a shame that something like this had to ruin ​it," he said.

Not including the Toledo incident, the ⁠Gun Violence Archive website has recorded 171 mass shootings in the United ​States this year. The site defines a mass ‌shooting as an incident with at least ​four people injured by gunfire, excluding the shooter.

(Reporting by Laura Matthews in New York; Editing by Sergio Non and Kim Coghill)

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