OHIO — A 17-year-old was hospitalized after being shot near the Summit County Fair late Saturday night, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred around 11:15 p.m., shortly after the fair had closed for the night.
Authorities say an individual fired into a vehicle, striking the teen, who was later transported to Akron Children’s Hospital by the Tallmadge Fire Department with non-life-threatening injuries.
Deputies from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Tallmadge Police Department responded to the scene.
The suspect, described as a Black male with dreadlock-style hair, a neck tattoo, and wearing a Nike t-shirt, fled in an unknown vehicle.
The investigation remains active, and authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Detective Bureau at 330-643-8087.
Security at the fair had already been heightened, with additional deputies and drone surveillance in place, officials noted in a statement.
The shooting followed a series of disturbances on Friday night that led to an early closure of the fair.
According to officials, two teens were seen throwing objects at a barn door, prompting the early closure of animal barns. Later, a group of individuals sparked panic by falsely claiming that a shooting was imminent.
“We want to clearly state that there was no evidence or credible threat involving a firearm or any planned act of violence,” fair directors said in a release.
Later that evening, at approximately 10:30 p.m., a fight on the midway reportedly tied to a social media video challenge led to the arrest of a juvenile for using a taser. In response, the fair was closed 20 minutes early to prevent further incidents.
Despite the recent troubles, the Summit County Fair remained open on Sunday, operating from noon to 9 p.m.
