Armed man charges at Ohio governor candidate Acton
Apnews · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
An armed man rushed toward Democratic Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton on Sunday while she was speaking at the Canfield Fair in northeastern Ohio, injuring several people before authorities stopped and arrested him. Acton was not injured, but her campaign and state officials said multiple attendees were hurt in the disturbance.
Key Points
- Acton, Ohio’s former public health director and the Democratic candidate for governor, was speaking at the Mahoning County Democrat booth when the man pushed toward her on Sunday.
- The Ohio State Highway Patrol identified the suspect as Patrick Havas, 38, and said he forced his way through the crowd, knocking over multiple audience members
- Authorities said he was carrying multiple weapons; the highway patrol cited a taser and two pistols, while the sheriff’s office said two handguns and brass knuckles were recovered.
- The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office said no weapons were brandished or removed from their holsters, and Havas was booked on disorderly conduct and two assault counts
- Republican Governor Mike DeWine and Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy both condemned the incident, calling violence at political events unacceptable.
Why It Matters
The incident lands in the final six weeks before Ohio’s November gubernatorial election, a closely watched race between Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. For Hong Kong readers, it is another example of how security risks are increasingly shaping campaign events in major US elections and may affect how candidates meet voters in person.