Blab Politics
Ohio Campaign Event Sees Armed Man Lunge Toward Dr. Amy Acton; Attacker Arrested
On Sunday, September 6, 2026, a tense moment unfolded at the Canfield Fair near Youngstown when an armed man tried to approach Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Amy Acton. State police and the event’s security team intervened before he could reach her. The suspect, 38‑year‑old Patrick Havas, was taken into custody and later charged with disorderly conduct, inducing panic, and two counts of assault. Acton emerged unharmed.
The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office reported that Havas entered the crowd with two pistols, a taser, and a pair of brass knuckles, none of which were drawn during the confrontation. An officer who apprehended him noted that the attacker did not brandish any of the items. Havas was booked on the aforementioned charges and released on a $5,000 bail set by the court.
Acton, a physician and former Ohio Department of Health director, was quick to help those displaced by the attacker. Witnesses say she immediately tended to people knocked down in the melee. Former U.S. Representative John Boccieri, who stood near Acton, told NBC News that an older man was pushed face‑down in the mud and that Acton began rendering aid. A Facebook user, Lindsay Yaggi, posted that Acton apologized to the injured and ensured they were okay before leaving the stage.
The next day, Acton resumed campaigning. On Monday, September 7, she was present at the start of a Labor Day parade in Cleveland when an elderly woman collapsed near the route. Acton helped the woman, who declined transport to a hospital, according to local station WKYC. The event was captured on video, though the clip lacks sound.
Both parties issued statements condemning the attack. The Ramaswamy campaign said violence has no place in politics. The Democratic campaign described the incident as a “serious threat to public safety.” No injuries were reported to Acton, and no weapons were used in a way that caused harm.
Social media posts by right‑wing commentator Laura Loomer suggested the attack was staged by Acton’s campaign to distract from her own remarks. Loomer posted on Facebook that Acton was “drunk” and that the attacker’s weapons did not indicate intent to harm. The posts were unsupported by evidence and were widely criticized by fact‑checking outlets. No official investigation has linked the incident to any political strategy.
Havas’s background has drawn attention. He is a licensed practical nurse with a minor criminal record, including a 2008 arrest for stealing DVDs from a supermarket. He voted in a Republican primary in 2016 but is not currently registered with any party. His brother, Andrew Havas, a former volunteer for Senator Jon Husted’s campaign, donated more than $10,000 to Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign and had previously donated to Husted’s campaign and a related PAC. Andrew Havas resigned from the Husted campaign in July 2023 after a 2009 sexual assault case was reported to the campaign by NBC News. The Husted campaign said it had no knowledge of the charges before the resignation.
The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office says the attacker will appear before a judge on Tuesday, September 12, 2026. The case remains under investigation, and no further details about motive or whether Havas intended to harm Acton have been released. The incident has prompted discussions about security at campaign events, but no changes to state security protocols have been announced.
The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office reported that Havas entered the crowd with two pistols, a taser, and a pair of brass knuckles, none of which were drawn during the confrontation. An officer who apprehended him noted that the attacker did not brandish any of the items. Havas was booked on the aforementioned charges and released on a $5,000 bail set by the court.
Acton, a physician and former Ohio Department of Health director, was quick to help those displaced by the attacker. Witnesses say she immediately tended to people knocked down in the melee. Former U.S. Representative John Boccieri, who stood near Acton, told NBC News that an older man was pushed face‑down in the mud and that Acton began rendering aid. A Facebook user, Lindsay Yaggi, posted that Acton apologized to the injured and ensured they were okay before leaving the stage.
The next day, Acton resumed campaigning. On Monday, September 7, she was present at the start of a Labor Day parade in Cleveland when an elderly woman collapsed near the route. Acton helped the woman, who declined transport to a hospital, according to local station WKYC. The event was captured on video, though the clip lacks sound.
Both parties issued statements condemning the attack. The Ramaswamy campaign said violence has no place in politics. The Democratic campaign described the incident as a “serious threat to public safety.” No injuries were reported to Acton, and no weapons were used in a way that caused harm.
Social media posts by right‑wing commentator Laura Loomer suggested the attack was staged by Acton’s campaign to distract from her own remarks. Loomer posted on Facebook that Acton was “drunk” and that the attacker’s weapons did not indicate intent to harm. The posts were unsupported by evidence and were widely criticized by fact‑checking outlets. No official investigation has linked the incident to any political strategy.
Havas’s background has drawn attention. He is a licensed practical nurse with a minor criminal record, including a 2008 arrest for stealing DVDs from a supermarket. He voted in a Republican primary in 2016 but is not currently registered with any party. His brother, Andrew Havas, a former volunteer for Senator Jon Husted’s campaign, donated more than $10,000 to Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign and had previously donated to Husted’s campaign and a related PAC. Andrew Havas resigned from the Husted campaign in July 2023 after a 2009 sexual assault case was reported to the campaign by NBC News. The Husted campaign said it had no knowledge of the charges before the resignation.
The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office says the attacker will appear before a judge on Tuesday, September 12, 2026. The case remains under investigation, and no further details about motive or whether Havas intended to harm Acton have been released. The incident has prompted discussions about security at campaign events, but no changes to state security protocols have been announced.
