Officials in Sacramento County are probing a violent incident that erupted Saturday night April 18 at Howe Community Park at the moment deputies were clearing a large unauthorized gathering of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Prior to the Shooting
Law enforcement were first called to Howe Community Park just after half past six in the evening after learning of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. After website that, additional information came in about a possible physical fight breaking out inside the park.
A sheriff's airship conducted an aerial sweep but reported no active disturbance. Even so, authorities discovered that several hundred individuals had come together at the location without permission.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Responding units began the process of clearing the park by forming a perimeter and issuing commands over loudspeakers telling attendees to leave immediately. Roughly 15 minutes were given for attendees to disperse.
As the crowd was being cleared that 20 to 25 gunshots were fired. The rapid succession of shots sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Deputies immediately began looking for those injured.
Four People Shot
In total, four shooting victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. All four — a group of one female and three male victims all believed to be in their mid to late twenties — were brought to local Sacramento hospitals. Emergency physicians indicated that two were treated for serious injuries, one sustained moderate wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. According to authorities, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento fire crews provided support and helped care for those with gunshot wounds before they were taken to the hospital.
The Investigation
The center of the incident was determined to have happened near the Cottage Way corridor alongside the Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Investigators located extra shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Round impacts were observed in the iron fence alongside the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence suggested that at least one of the shooters had been sending rounds south from Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot building and parking lot. The nearby Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown while law enforcement worked the area. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives continued working through the early morning hours.
Arrests Made
Details gathered over police scanner frequencies showed that a vehicle identified as a Kia was pulled over in an area within Solano County. Four detainees were stopped and detained. Sacramento law enforcement were heading to pick up the four detainees to return them to Sacramento for investigation. Surveillance footage made clear that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.