There have been six homicides since Friday morning in the city of Toledo. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz released a statement Sunday afternoon acknowledging the violence.
TOLEDO, Ohio — After six homicides in less than three days, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz has released a statement addressing what he described as “a painful series of violent events” over a holiday weekend.
Kapszukiewicz acknowledged six deaths within the city since Friday, with Toledo police confirming a second victim has died in the overnight shooting outside Agenda Sports Bar and Grill on Sunday.
The violent events began in the early morning hours of July 4 with a stabbing in east Toledo that left 35-year-old Marcus White dead. The suspect in White’s death, Paris Johnson, 35, was arrested on murder and felonious assault charges.
A teenager was killed and a woman was injured in a shooting in south Toledo Friday afternoon. Toledo police Lt. Dan Gerken said the woman is expected to recover. The second victim was identified by police as 17-year-old Jaycieon Bennett.
Just after midnight on July 5, near Platt and 1st streets in east Toledo, officers found 20-year-old Salvador Ruiz inside a vehicle and shot at least once. Ruiz died at the hospital.
Minutes after officers located Ruiz, two other shooting victims were located in a crashed car 3 minutes away on Nevada Street, also in east Toledo. Amir Thomas-Clair, 20, was found shot at least once and died at the hospital. A second victim inside the car is hospitalized in critical condition as of Saturday morning.
Early Sunday, a shooting took place outside Agenda Sports Bar and Grill on Matzinger Road in north Toledo, police said. Four victims were wounded in the shooting. Christopher Bourn, 31, died at the scene and a second victim, Stefan Garrett, 37, died at the hospital. Two other victims were hospitalized in critical condition.
RELATED: 2nd victim dies after being shot outside north Toledo bar overnight; 2 others in critical condition
“These incidents are not connected, but together, they tell a heartbreaking story. A story of too many families grieving. A story of trauma that stretches far beyond the victims,” Kapszukiewicz said in the statement. “Toledo is grieving. We all feel the weight of what happened this weekend because we all know it is unacceptable.”
Toledo police have not yet said if they believe there are any connections between the incidents.
Kapszukiewicz added, “The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement will work with those who have been impacted and help people heal, while continuing to address the systemic causes of violence.”
He encouraged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. If you have information, call or text Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
“Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those who have been affected by this senseless violence,” Kapszukiewicz said. “We believe in a safer, more hopeful future for Toledo. And we will not stop working toward it.”
Statement from Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz
This weekend, our city has experienced a painful series of violent events. Since Friday morning, six lives have been lost, including two people killed last night in a shooting at Agenda Bar on Matzinger Road.
These incidents are not connected, but together, they tell a heartbreaking story. A story of too many families grieving. A story of trauma that stretches far beyond the victims.
Toledo is grieving. We all feel the weight of what happened this weekend because we all know it is unacceptable.
Toledo Police are investigating every one of these incidents. One suspect is already in custody. Our officers are working around the clock—not just to solve these crimes, but to try to prevent the next one. That includes proactive patrols in areas where violence may flare.
The Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement will work with those who have been impacted and help people heal, while continuing to address the systemic causes of violence.
And we need your help too. If you have information that could help solve a crime, call Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111.
Violence like this can make us feel angry, afraid, even hopeless. But we cannot give up on each other. We cannot give up on our neighborhoods. And we will not give up on Toledo.
Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and all those who have been affected by this senseless violence. We believe in a safer, more hopeful future for Toledo. And we will not stop working toward it.
— Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz
This article was published by Diane Woodring (WTOL) on 2025-07-06 14:07:00
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