English
An armed man attacked a crowd at an Ohio state fair Sunday after lunging at Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for governor, injuring several people in the process. Patrick Havas, 38, of Canfield, Ohio, was arrested at the scene and later booked at the Mahoning County Jail on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault.
Attack Unfolds at Canfield Fair
The incident took place around 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the annual Canfield Fair in Canfield, a suburb of Youngstown. Acton was addressing supporters inside the Mahoning County Democratic Party’s tent when Havas approached, carrying a cellphone he had set up to record her appearance.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
According to Gerry Ricciutti, a spokesperson for the Mahoning County Sheriff, Havas pushed through the crowd near the tent. Consequently, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers guarding Acton confronted him. During the struggle, two people were knocked to the ground.
Fortunately, Acton, who is a physician, was not injured in the confrontation. Instead, she stayed at the scene to assist one of the injured individuals. Meanwhile, law enforcement secured the surrounding area.
Weapons Recovered from Suspect
After arresting Havas, officers recovered two handguns, a set of brass knuckles, and a Taser. Investigators confirmed that Havas did not brandish the weapons or remove them from their holsters at any point during the incident.
Authorities from both the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office are jointly investigating the circumstances that led up to the confrontation. Officials said no additional details were available while the investigation remains active.
Violent Confrontation at Canfield Fair
According to Gerry Ricciutti, a spokesperson for the Mahoning County Sheriff, Havas pushed through the crowd near the tent. Consequently, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers guarding Dr. Amy Acton confronted him. During the struggle, the suspect and troopers knocked two people to the ground.
Fortunately, Acton suffered no injuries in the confrontation. Instead, she stayed at the scene to assist an injured person. Meanwhile, law enforcement officers secured the surrounding area. A photo sent to NBC News shows Acton helping at the scene.
Campaign and Governor React to Attack
Campaign spokesperson Addie Bullock stated that Acton and her husband Eric appreciated law enforcement’s swift response. In addition, Bullock emphasized that violence has no place in Ohio. Furthermore, she declared that Dr. Acton will always resist hatred and division.
Similarly, Governor Mike DeWine expressed relief that Acton remained unharmed. Acton previously served as Ohio’s health director under DeWine during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeWine noted that citizens cannot accept political violence. Thus, law enforcement officers now hold the case and will investigate it thoroughly.
Cross-Party Leaders Condemn the Incident
Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy condemned the attack through his spokesperson, Connie Luck. Ramaswamy also planned to visit the fair on Sunday afternoon. Consequently, Luck called the event completely unacceptable.
In addition, Republican Senator Jon Husted posted on X that the attempted attack deeply disturbed him and his wife. Husted praised the rapid police response. Therefore, he insisted society must never tolerate such behavior.
Likewise, Mahoning County Democratic Party Chair Christopher Anderson called the incident reprehensible. Because his organization hosted the event, he urged leaders from all political parties to condemn it. Moreover, Anderson thanked local police for intervening quickly.
High-Stakes Race for Ohio Governor
Looking ahead, Acton will face Ramaswamy in the November general election. Both candidates compete to succeed DeWine as Ohio governor. Currently, recent polling shows a very close race. Therefore, Sunday’s confrontation at the Canfield Fair marks a critical moment in this tightly watched campaign.
