TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Members of the Toledo Police Department are working around the clock to investigate a series of deadly shootings over the holiday weekend. Now local leaders are calling for residents to cooperate with those investigations and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Investigators told the 13 Action News I-TEAM that each incident is separate. Having no connection between the crimes makes solving them all even more difficult, and detectives say that means they need the public more than ever.
Many remember a violent stretch we saw in 2020 and into 2021 marking record homicide numbers, which was the case across the country. No one wants to see that again and hope what Toledo experienced over the weekend is part of a one-off holiday weekend.
Demolition of a blighted former business in Toledo’s Warren Sherman neighborhood Monday morning is a sign of progress for a city that took a gut punch over the weekend.
“This is kinda like a little sunshine in the midst of the rain. This says keep working,” said Toledo City Councilwoman Cerssandra McPherson.
Working is exactly what Toledo Police detectives have been doing since a 35-year-old man was stabbed in the 600 block of Plymouth Street.
“The crews are working 24/7. They are running from call to call to call to deal with these things. The detectives, some of them have not slept in days,” said Assistant Police Chief Kevin Braun of the Toledo Police Department.
At this point, police say none of the incidents are related or connected but some see one thread.
“Out of control, hopelessness, helplessness and a sense of self destruction. That’s the sense I am getting out of all of this,” said McPherson.
“How can we bring people in to understand that violence is not the way, no matter how bad it is? There’s always light somewhere and to find the light,” said Toledo City Councilwoman Vanice Williams.
The public can bring light to these cases. Someone probably saw something or knows something about each of these cases, especially the double shooting inside a crowded bar on Matzinger Road Sunday morning.
“This is a time for this community to come together to cooperate with the police department, with the investigators. The most important thing at this point for us is to get the people who are responsible for these things off the streets,” said Assistant Chief Braun.
If they don’t have specific information, Councilwoman McPherson says everyone can play a role in hopefully preventing the next one.
“Not holding the kids accountable. Then you’re creating these monsters. I’m sorry. Then not being held accountable in kindergarten, you get to the fifth grade, same thing when you get to high school. Nothing’s changed,” said McPherson.
Police say if all of them were related this would make piecing it all together somewhat easier. But for now they are all separate investigations. Anyone with information can text or call Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-07-07 19:04:00
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