MACEDONIA, Ohio — Following last weekend's Summerfest that was marred by an incident in which gunshots were allegedly fired, the mayor of Macedonia has announced that the city will be pausing all of its seasonal "fests."
In a letter posted on the city's Facebook page, Macedonia Mayor Nicholas Molnar wrote that although no one was injured as a result of the "stupidity" that took place at Summerfest, the event has been "tarnished."
"Moving forward, Summerfest, as we affectionately know it, will never be the same," Molnar wrote. "I will not - and cannot, as Safety Director - allow the safety of our residents and City personnel to ever be compromised again as occurred Saturday evening, despite the significant planning and efforts made by the City for the event. We will be reevaluating all events going forward, and I have immediately paused all the City's seasonal "fests."
Molnar confirmed that at least one suspect was apprehended after Saturday's incident.
You can read Molnar's letter below:
The incident in Macedonia is the latest example of violence taking place at an area festival. Also on Saturday, deputies in Lake County made four arrests at the annual festival at St. Gabriel Parish in Concord Township after "numerous altercations" contributed to an "increasingly volatile atmosphere."
The previous weekend, police departments in Mayfield Heights and Lyndhurst dealt with a series of incidents involving juveniles at Saint Clare Community Days. While Lyndhurst police say they detained a suspect with a handgun with an extended magazine fitted with an automatic switch, Mayfield Heights police arrested 10 juveniles amid violent behavior that forced several nearby businesses to close.
"I think these church festivals are a thing of the past," Mayfield Heights Police Chief Anthony Mele wrote in his department's release. "They've become a gather place for unruly juvenile behavior. The money generated by the churches is not worth risking the safety of the public."
Previous Reporting:
- Suspect apprehended after 'several' shots fired at Macedonia Summerfest, no injuries reported
- Lake County church festival shut down early after 'numerous altercations' break out among youths
- 'I think these church festivals are a thing of the past': Mayfield Heights chief speaks out following several arrests at Saint Clare Community Days