A violent Weekend in Toledo : Multiple Shootings Leave Two Dead- Devonta Miller and Jasmine Queen
TOLEDO, Ohio — A tragic and chaotic weekend has left the Toledo community reeling, as police investigate a series of multiple shootings that claimed the lives of 35-year-old Devonta Miller and 19-year-old Jasmine Queen, while leaving several others injured between Friday night and early Sunday morning. The string of violent incidents — including separate shootings on Redondo, Starr Avenue, Woodward Avenue, and finally Hill Avenue and Reynolds Road — has once again drawn painful attention to Toledo’s ongoing struggle with gun violence and the deep wounds it continues to inflict on families and neighborhoods.
According to the Toledo Police Department, the violence began late Friday night when officers were called to the 2200 block of Redondo for reports of shots fired. One man was found with gunshot wounds and rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Less than 24 hours later, on Saturday evening, police responded to another fatal shooting — this time on Starr Avenue — where 35-year-old Devonta Miller was found unresponsive. Despite the efforts of first responders, Miller was pronounced dead at the scene, marking another devastating loss for the community.
Miller, described by friends and relatives as a devoted father, a hardworking man, and a loyal friend, is being remembered for his kindness and love of family. “He didn’t deserve this,” one family member said. “Devonta was a good man — always looking out for people, always trying to do the right thing. We’re completely heartbroken.”
As the city was still coming to terms with Miller’s death, another wave of gunfire erupted Saturday night on Woodward Avenue, leaving two people injured. Both victims were transported to local hospitals and are expected to survive.
The weekend’s violence reached its most devastating point in the early hours of Sunday morning, when gunfire broke out outside a local business plaza at Hill Avenue and South Reynolds Road, near The Weekend Restaurant and Lounge. Police say the shooting began after a fight spilled out of the nightclub’s parking lot around 3 a.m., resulting in the death of 19-year-old Jasmine Queen and injuries to two others.
Queen’s death has shaken Toledo to its core. Friends and family describe her as a sweet, caring young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. “She was full of dreams, full of life,” said one classmate. “She just wanted to have fun with her friends that night — and now she’s gone. It’s not fair.”
The Toledo Police Department’s Homicide Unit is actively investigating all of the weekend’s shootings. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, gathering evidence, and interviewing witnesses in what officials are calling one of the most violent weekends the city has seen this year. While police have not confirmed whether any of the incidents are connected, they say each case is being treated as a priority.
“This has been a devastating weekend for Toledo,” said Police Chief Michael Troendle. “Two lives lost, multiple people injured, and countless families changed forever. We’re doing everything in our power to bring justice to the victims and their loved ones — but we need the community’s help to stop this cycle of violence.”
City leaders and community advocates echoed that sentiment, urging residents to come together in unity rather than despair. “We are losing too many young people to senseless acts of violence,” said Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz in a statement. “We must continue to work as one city — through education, prevention, and intervention — to make Toledo safer for everyone.”
Throughout the weekend, families gathered at crime scenes and hospitals, praying for answers and healing. Vigils are being planned for both Devonta Miller and Jasmine Queen, with residents lighting candles and leaving flowers to honor their memories.
As Toledo mourns yet another series of tragic losses, the community is left grappling with frustration, fear, and heartbreak — but also a determination to demand change. For now, two families are without their loved ones, several others are recovering from injuries, and an entire city is left asking: When will the violence end?
Anyone with information regarding any of these shootings is urged to contact the Toledo Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. Anonymous tips may be eligible for a reward.
Funeral arrangements for Devonta Miller and Jasmine Queen will be announced in the coming days as the community continues to honor their lives and call for peace in the wake of another tragic weekend in Toledo
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