Weapons Found on Man Who Charged at Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate at Rural Fair
Goldlaner.com – The quiet rhythm of a small-town Ohio county fair was shattered on Sunday when a man carrying two guns and brass knuckles forced his way through a crowd toward Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton, sending at least two older adults crashing to the ground before her security team tackled him. Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene confirmed the suspect, 38-year-old Patrick Havas of Canfield, was expected to face two assault counts and a disorderly-conduct charge following the episode at the Canfield Fair.
The incident unfolded inside the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent, where Acton was addressing supporters. Witnesses described a large white male barreling through the space, phone raised to record the candidate, shoving attendees aside as he closed the distance. Former Democratic Representative John Boccieri, who was standing inside the tent at the time, recalled the moment with visible agitation.
“A very large individual, white male, came barreling through the tent, and started pushing people to the ground as if he was trying to rush her,” Boccieri recounted. “He had been holding a phone camera up.”
Two elderly adults positioned in front of Acton were struck by the charge. One appeared to fall and strike his head against a table directly before the candidate. After Havas was brought down by Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers assigned to Acton’s protection detail, Boccieri said he helped lift the man who had hit his head. Acton herself, before her security team reassembled and escorted her from the tent, knelt to assist and administer basic care to the injured individual.
What Law Enforcement Found
Greene disclosed that officers recovered two firearms and a pair of brass knuckles from Havas after the confrontation. Neither weapon was drawn or displayed during the push through the crowd, according to the sheriff’s office. The full extent of injuries sustained by those knocked down had not been determined as of the latest updates. A Mahoning County inmate listing indicated Havas had not yet retained an attorney.
Acton’s spokesperson, Addie Bullock, issued a brief statement confirming the candidate was unharmed and expressing gratitude toward law enforcement.
“While attending the Canfield Fair, an armed individual lunged at Dr. Acton, injuring multiple people,” Bullock said. “Dr. Acton and Eric are grateful for the swift and decisive action of law enforcement and are praying for the recovery of those injured.”
A Candidate Under Pressure in a Closely Watched Race
Acton, who previously served as director of Ohio’s Department of Health under Republican Governor Mike DeWine, is locked in a tight contest against Vivek Ramaswamy for the governor’s mansion. The race has drawn national attention, and the Sunday incident immediately amplified anxieties already simmering across the American political landscape.
The broader backdrop is difficult to ignore. Multiple assassination attempts have been made on President Donald Trump over recent years, and the event landed near the one-year anniversary of the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. For families touched by political violence, the Canfield episode carried a particular weight.
Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly, whose wife and former congresswoman Gabby Giffords survived a 2011 shooting after a constituent meeting, said he spoke with Acton by phone that same day.
“There’s no place in our society for political violence. An issue that unfortunately Gabby and I are very familiar with. I want to thank law enforcement for stopping this attack. Perpetrators of political violence must be brought to justice,” Kelly wrote in a social media post, adding that he called Acton “tough.”
Reactions Across the Aisle
Ramaswamy’s campaign issued its own condemnation on Sunday evening. Communications director Connie Luck framed the moment in terms of voter access and democratic norms.
“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, and we hope that no one was hurt.”
Governor DeWine, who had appointed Acton to head the state health department during his tenure, posted a message of relief and condemnation. He noted that he and his wife Fran had spoken with Acton that afternoon.
“Fran and I are thankful Dr. Amy Acton was not hurt, and we send our thoughts to those who were injured. We spoke to Dr. Acton this afternoon and she said to share with Ohioans that she is ok,” DeWine wrote. “Violence or the threat of violence at political or public events is always unacceptable.”
What Happens Next
Havas is expected to appear before a Mahoning County magistrate on the two assault counts and the disorderly-conduct charge. Questions remain about his motive, whether the two firearms were loaded, and whether any prior contact with the campaign or the fair organizers existed. The Canfield Police Department and the Acton campaign were reached for additional detail as this story developed.
For the two older adults who were knocked down, the immediate medical picture was still being assessed. For Acton and her team, the episode underscored a reality that candidates across the country now face: the distance between a podium and a voter’s hand can, in a single breath, become the distance between a podium and a weapon.
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