A chaotic scene erupted at a beloved Ohio county fair this weekend when an armed man allegedly rushed at Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton, injuring two people in the process before officers swooped in to take him down.
The incident unfolded Sunday at the Canfield Fair in Mahoning County as Acton was meeting with supporters inside the local Democratic Party tent. According to campaign officials, 38-year-old Patrick Havas reportedly pushed his way to the front, knocking over multiple volunteers. The two people injured were described as older adults.
Sheriff Jerry Greene told local news that Havas was carrying a phone camera along with two concealed firearms and brass knuckles. He never pulled out the weapons, but the sudden lunge caused a scramble. Acton’s security team, made up of Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, quickly pinned him down.
Fair police then assisted and placed him under arrest.
Inmate records reportedly show Havas now faces two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct, but no firearms-related charges have been filed yet.
Acton, a physician and former state health director, was unharmed and even stayed on site to help one of the injured, according to NBC News. Her campaign released a statement condemning the violence and thanking law enforcement for their swift action.
“This kind of violence has no place in Ohio,” said communications director Addie Bullock.
Even Acton’s Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, spoke out through his team, calling the event “completely unacceptable” and urging that candidates be able to meet voters without fear.
The Mahoning County Democratic Party chair, Chris Anderson, said the attack should be condemned by leaders on all sides. An investigation remains ongoing.
What really happened in those tense moments before the takedown—and what more will investigators uncover?
