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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.
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Mahoning County Sheriff’s spokesperson Gerry Ricciutti said Havas began pushing through the crowd as he entered the tent. Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers assigned to Acton’s security detail confronted him, and during that struggle, two people were knocked to the ground.
Acton, a physician, was not injured in the confrontation. A photo shared with NBC News showed her remaining at the scene to assist one of the injured individuals while law enforcement secured the 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.
Widespread Condemnation from Political Leaders
Campaign spokesperson Addie Bullock said Acton and her husband Eric were grateful for law enforcement’s swift response. “This kind of violence has no place in Ohio,” Bullock said. “Dr. Acton will always stand up to the chaos, hate and vitriol that pits us against one another.”
Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, who had also been scheduled to visit the fair Sunday afternoon, condemned the attack through his spokesperson Connie Luck. “Candidates should be able to meet with voters without having to worry about threats or violence,” Luck said. “What happened today is completely unacceptable and has no place in politics.”
Term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican under whom Acton served as Ohio’s health director during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, said he and his wife had spoken with Acton and were relieved she was unharmed. “Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable,” DeWine said. “This case is now in the hands of law enforcement and will be investigated thoroughly.”
Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who previously served alongside both DeWine and Acton as lieutenant governor, posted on X that he and his wife were “disturbed by the attempted attack.” He called law enforcement’s quick response a reason for gratitude and said such behavior “must never be tolerated.”
Mahoning County Democratic Party Chair Christopher Anderson, whose organization hosted the event, described what happened as “reprehensible” and called on leaders across the political spectrum to condemn it. Anderson also thanked local law enforcement and the Highway Patrol for their rapid intervention.
High-Stakes Race for Ohio Governor
Acton faces Ramaswamy, a businessman who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, in the November general election. The two are competing to succeed DeWine as Ohio’s governor. Recent polling has shown the race to be closely contested, making Sunday’s Amy Acton confrontation at the Canfield Fair a significant moment in an already tightly watched campaign.
