Law enforcement in Sacramento are examining a shooting that occurred Saturday night April 18 at the Howe Community Park area while officers were breaking up a large unsanctioned party of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Prior to the Shooting
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were first dispatched to Howe Community Park at approximately 6:30 in the evening after learning of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Soon after, another report was received concerning a possible fight breaking out at Howe Park.
A sheriff's airship flew over the park but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Despite this, it became clear that an enormous crowd had packed into the website park without authorization.
The Shooting Itself
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies moved to clear the area by setting up around the park's perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems commanding the assembled crowd to leave immediately. Around 15 minutes were spent for individuals to vacate.
Just as the crowd began to move that an estimated 20 to 25 shots were fired. Gunfire caused mass panic. Law enforcement wasted no time in identifying shooting victims.
Four Gunshot Victims
By the time the scene was secured, four people were found to have been shot. Those injured — consisting of one woman and three men all reportedly in their early to late twenties — were rushed to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical personnel stated that two had critical injury classifications, one had moderate injuries, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, all four victims survived and were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento assisted at the location and provided medical assistance shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
Crime Scene Evidence
The center of the incident was confirmed to have been concentrated near Cottage Way alongside the Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Detectives discovered additional spent rounds on Cottage Way. Bullet damage were discovered in the iron fence adjacent to the nearby Home Depot. This evidence pointed to that at least one of the shooters had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area in the direction of the Home Depot. The Home Depot was locked down during the incident. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives stayed at the location late into the evening.
Arrests Made
Intelligence received over scanner radio traffic established that a Kia connected to the shooting had been stopped in an area within Solano County. Four people were taken into custody. Sheriff's units were en route to collect those detained to collect the individuals for further questioning. Footage analyzed by investigators established that there were two gunmen.