TOLEDO, OH — It was a tragic and chaotic weekend across Toledo, as a wave of gun violence swept through the city, leaving two people dead and several others injured in separate incidents spanning from Friday night into early Sunday morning. The heartbreaking string of shootings claimed the lives of 35-year-old Devonta Miller and 19-year-old Jasmine Queen, two individuals whose futures were cut short amid senseless acts of violence that have shaken the community to its core.
According to the Toledo Police Department, officers were called to multiple locations over the weekend to respond to reports of gunfire, each scene painting a grim picture of the toll that continued violence takes on the city’s residents.
The first incident occurred late Friday night on Redondo Street, where officers responding to reports of shots fired found 35-year-old Devonta Miller suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts by emergency responders, Miller was pronounced dead at the scene. Loved ones described him as a loyal friend and devoted father, someone who worked hard to provide for his family and was known for his big heart and infectious laugh. His death marks yet another painful loss for a community already mourning too many.
Less than 24 hours later, police were called to Starr Avenue for another shooting that quickly turned into a homicide investigation. Witnesses reported hearing a barrage of gunfire followed by chaos as people scrambled for cover. One victim, whose name has not yet been released, was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. Detectives spent hours combing the area for shell casings and surveillance footage as neighbors expressed fear and frustration over the ongoing violence.
Later that same night, another shooting on Woodward Avenue left two individuals injured. Both were transported to a nearby hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition. Residents in the area told reporters that they are growing increasingly fearful to leave their homes after dark, worried that random bursts of gunfire could erupt at any moment.
The weekend of violence culminated in the early hours of Sunday morning, when police responded to the intersection of Hill Avenue and South Reynolds Road following reports of a large disturbance outside a business plaza. The scene unfolded just after 3 a.m., outside The Weekend Restaurant and Lounge, where a party had spilled into the parking lot. Gunfire erupted, striking three individuals. Tragically, 19-year-old Jasmine Queen was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Family and friends of Jasmine described her as a bright, joyful young woman with dreams of building a future and making her mark in the world. Her death, they said, has left an unfillable void. “She was just a kid — she had her whole life ahead of her,” one loved one shared tearfully. “She didn’t deserve this. None of them do.”
Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle addressed the violence in a statement Sunday afternoon, calling the weekend “deeply heartbreaking” and urging community members to come forward with any information that could help bring those responsible to justice. “We need the community’s help to stop this cycle,” Troendle said. “Every shooting, every life lost, is a tragedy that ripples through families and neighborhoods. We must all take a stand together.”
City leaders and local activists are once again calling for unity, accountability, and renewed focus on violence prevention efforts. Community organizations have planned vigils in honor of Devonta Miller and Jasmine Queen, hoping to bring comfort to grieving families while demanding lasting change.
As the investigation continues, the families of both victims are left grappling with unimaginable grief — two more names added to the growing list of lives lost to gun violence in Toledo this year.
What was meant to be an ordinary weekend has instead become a painful reminder of how quickly joy can turn to sorrow — and how urgently the city must work to bring peace back to its neighborhoods before more lives are stolen too soon.
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