July 2, 2025 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITY OF HUBER HEIGHTS PROVIDES UPDATE ON STAR SPANGLED HEIGHTS/THOMAS CLOUD PARK INVESTIGATION

Huber Heights, OH - On Saturday, June 28, during the Star Spangled Heights Celebration at Thomas Cloud Park, an explosive device was detonated inside a trash can near the food truck area. Two juveniles suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

 This incident has received significant community attention, and the City of Huber Heights is providing an update on the progress of the active investigation.

 Mayor Jeff Gore addressed the situation during a press conference:

 “This was not a prank - it was a dangerous and criminal act that put lives at risk. Let me be clear: this type of behavior is reckless, unacceptable, and it will not be tolerated in Huber Heights.”

 Earlier today, detectives from the Huber Heights Police Division executed search warrants in connection with the case at two residents, one in Butler Township and one in Huber Heights. As a result, two juvenile males were taken into custody without incident, and several other individuals were detained for questioning. During the execution of the search warrants, evidence was recovered from inside the residences that directly linked the individuals to the offense. No injuries were reported during the execution of these warrants.

 The two suspects were booked into the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with the following offenses:

• Aggravated Arson
• Inducing Panic
• Felonious Assault
• Illegal Sale of Fireworks

 The case remains under active investigation. Due to the age of those involved and in accordance with juvenile privacy laws, specific details remain limited. However, city officials emphasize that investigators have worked diligently to ensure a thorough and professional response, and that the City is working closely with prosecutors as the legal process continues.

It’s important to note that every large public event in Huber Heights is guided by a formal Incident Action Plan, developed in advance by multiple departments to ensure coordination and public safety. This preparedness played a key role in the effective response to Saturday’s incident.

 The City also credits the rapid progress in the case to the use of its surveillance infrastructure, particularly the LiveView Technologies (LVT) camera system recently approved by City Council.

 “Without the support of this technology, we may still be searching for answers. Thanks to the LVT system, we were able to move quickly to identify suspects and act on reliable information,” said Mayor Gore.

 Although early panic was caused by a mistaken report of an active shooter, authorities confirmed that no shots were fired and no evidence of an active shooter was found at the event.

 Looking ahead, the City has no plans to cancel the 2026 Star Spangled Heights Celebration or any other public event.

  “We will not allow the reckless actions of a few individuals to cancel the events that bring our community together,” said Mayor Gore. “Our parks and public spaces are places of unity, not chaos - and we intend to keep it that way.”

 As with all major public gatherings, the City will conduct a formal debrief to review the event and identify areas for improvement in future planning.

 For updates, the City will continue to share information as legally and operationally appropriate. 

 Anyone with additional information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Hogue at (937) 237-3594.

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Original Press Release 7.2.25 - CITY OF HUBER HEIGHTS PROVIDES UPDATE ON STAR SPANGLED HEIGHTS/THOMAS CLOUD PARK INVESTIGATION (PDF)