Law enforcement in Sacramento are examining a violent incident that took place Saturday night April 18 at Howe Community Park just as law enforcement were breaking up a large unsanctioned party of several hundred people.
Before the Gunfire
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies initially got calls about more info the park at about 6:30 PM after receiving reports of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Following that, a second call came in describing a reported physical confrontation unfolding at Howe Park.
A sheriff's airship searched from above but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Despite this, deputies found that a massive group had gathered without authorization without authorization.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by surrounding the park and issuing commands over loudspeakers instructing those gathered to leave immediately. About 15 minutes were allotted for attendees to disperse.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. The sudden gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies at once began identifying shooting victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Ultimately, four people were discovered with shooting injuries. The victims — a group of one female and three male victims all reportedly in their 20s at the time of the incident — were taken to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Emergency physicians confirmed that two victims were in serious condition, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one suffered minor injuries. Thankfully, all four victims survived and were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department were called to the scene and assisted with medical triage the four victims before they were taken to the hospital.
Evidence at the Scene
The bulk of the shooting appears to have been concentrated along the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the Home Depot store located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators found extra shell casings along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were also found in the iron perimeter fence near the Home Depot store. These findings pointed to that at least one of the shooters had been aiming south from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was put under lockdown as a precaution. CSI investigators and detectives continued working well into the night.
Arrests Made
Intelligence received via scanner audio revealed that a Kia vehicle was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County. Four people were taken into custody. Deputies were sent to retrieve the detainees to bring the suspects back for questioning. Video that was reviewed confirmed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.