Armed Man With Two Pistols Charged Toward Ohio Governor Candidate Amy Acton At Fair
A 38-year-old man charged toward Democratic Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton while she spoke at the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio, on Sunday, September 6, 2026.[1] He was arrested at the scene and booked on disorderly conduct and two counts of assault.[2]
Law enforcement said he forced his way through the crowd carrying a taser and two pistols; deputies later recovered two handguns and a set of brass knuckles.[3] Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene said the man pushed through the crowd and knocked over two elderly audience members, who were assessed and declined further treatment, and that Acton was not injured.[1]
Youngstown City Council member Mike Ray, who witnessed the incident, said the man heckled Acton, knocked two older adults to the ground and that Acton's speech was cut short.[1] Gov. Mike DeWine, Sen. Jon Husted and both the Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns issued statements condemning the incident and calling political violence unacceptable.[3]
Early accounts emphasized that authorities said no weapons were drawn and that the suspect did not appear to remove firearms from their holsters.[1] Later coverage placed the episode in a broader pattern of rising political violence and explicitly connected it to past attacks on public officials and candidates.[3]
On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Acton publicly thanked first responders, acknowledged that several other people were injured and expressed gratitude to law enforcement and emergency personnel.[4]
Show source details & analysis (6 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- While giving a speech at the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton was targeted by a man who charged toward her (Mahoning County Democratic Party tent).
- The suspect, identified as Patrick Havas, 38, was arrested at the scene, taken to the Mahoning County Jail and booked on disorderly conduct and two counts of assault (Patrick Havas).
- Law enforcement said Havas forced his way through the crowd while carrying a taser and two pistols; deputies later recovered two handguns and a set of brass knuckles, and authorities said no weapons were brandished or removed from their holsters (two handguns and a set of brass knuckles).
- Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene said the man pushed through the crowd, knocked over two elderly audience members (who were assessed and declined further treatment), and that Dr. Acton was not injured; Greene said the suspect will face two counts of misdemeanor assault (Sheriff Jerry Greene).
- Youngstown City Council member Mike Ray, who witnessed the incident, said the man heckled Acton, knocked two older adults to the ground and that Acton's speech was cut short (Mike Ray).
- Gov. Mike DeWine, Sen. Jon Husted and both the Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns issued statements condemning the incident and calling political violence unacceptable (Gov. Mike DeWine).
- In a CBS News interview on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Amy Acton publicly thanked first responders, acknowledged that several other people were injured, and expressed gratitude to law enforcement and emergency personnel (Amy Acton).
- PBS placed the episode in a broader pattern of rising political violence in the U.S., referencing prior attacks including the 2017 congressional baseball shooting, the 2022 assault on Paul Pelosi and the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump (PBS).
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
September 08, 2026
4:02 PM
Ohio gubernatorial hopeful Amy Acton thanks first responders after attempted attack
New information:
- On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Amy Acton publicly thanked first responders in a CBS News interview following the September 6 attempted attack at the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio.
- Acton acknowledged that several other people were injured in the incident while expressing gratitude to law enforcement and emergency personnel.
- The CBS segment frames her remarks as her first on-camera response focused on appreciation for first responders after the attack.
September 07, 2026
6:03 PM
Armed man charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor at fair, law enforcement says
New information:
- The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the incident occurred Sunday, September 6, 2026, at the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio, when 38-year-old Patrick Havas forced his way through a crowd toward Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton.
- Highway Patrol and Mahoning County Sheriff's Office statements say Havas had a taser and two pistols, and deputies recovered two handguns and a set of brass knuckles; authorities said no weapons were brandished or removed from their holsters.
- Havas was arrested at the scene, taken to the Mahoning County Jail, and booked on disorderly conduct and two counts of assault after knocking over multiple audience members and injuring several people.
- Gov. Mike DeWine, Sen. Jon Husted, and both the Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns issued statements condemning the incident and calling it unacceptable political violence.
- The article situates the incident within a broader pattern of rising political violence in the U.S., referencing prior attacks including the 2017 congressional baseball shooting, the 2022 assault on Paul Pelosi, and the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
2:45 AM
Armed man charged toward Democratic candidate for Ohio governor at fair, law enforcement says
New information:
- Article confirms the suspect's identity as Patrick Havas, 38, and says he was taken to the Mahoning County Jail on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
- Ohio State Highway Patrol says Havas forced his way through the crowd toward Amy Acton while carrying a taser and two pistols.
- Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office reports two handguns and brass knuckles were recovered and states that no weapons were brandished or removed from their holsters.
- The article specifies that Havas is currently booked on charges of disorderly conduct and two counts of assault, with online court records not yet listing the case.
- Gov. Mike DeWine, Sen. Jon Husted, and both the Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns issued statements condemning the incident and political violence.
- Ramaswamy’s campaign said candidates should be able to meet voters without fearing threats or violence, calling the incident completely unacceptable.
- Acton campaign communications director Addie Bullock said the suspect 'lunged' at Acton and framed the episode as part of broader 'chaos, hate and vitriol.'
2:08 AM
Armed man arrested after charging at Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton
New information:
- On Sunday, September 6, 2026, CBS reported that an armed man was arrested after charging toward Democratic Ohio governor candidate Amy Acton during a campaign stop at the Canfield Fair in Canfield, Ohio.
- CBS said campaign officials reported that several people were injured during the incident.
- The CBS clip reconfirms the timing and location as a campaign appearance at the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at the Canfield Fair.
September 06, 2026
11:12 PM
Man Arrested After Pushing Toward Democratic Candidate for Ohio Governor
New information:
- The incident occurred Sunday, September 6, 2026, while Dr. Amy Acton was giving a speech at the Mahoning County Democratic Party tent at a fair in Canfield, Ohio.
- Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene said the man pushed through the crowd, knocking over two elderly audience members, and will face two counts of misdemeanor assault, one for each individual he knocked over.
- Sheriff Greene said the victims were assessed for potential injuries and chose not to seek further treatment, and that Dr. Acton was not injured.
- Sheriff Greene said the detained man was found to have two firearms on him but did not draw the weapons.
- Sheriff Greene said he believed the man’s intent was to "ask her a couple of questions" and that he was "pretty aggressive about it."
- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the man tried to "forcefully push himself toward Dr. Acton" and that other attendees were injured; he stated that violence or threats of violence at political events are unacceptable.
- Youngstown City Council member Mike Ray, who said he witnessed the incident, described the man as heckling Acton, then knocking two older adults to the ground before being handcuffed.
- The incident cut Dr. Acton’s speech short, according to witness Mike Ray.