Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday night April 18 at Howe Community Park at the moment officers were dissolving an unlawful assembly of several hundred people.
Before the Gunfire
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office first arrived at Howe Park just after 6:30 Saturday evening after obtaining information of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Not long after, a second call came in mentioning a reported physical confrontation unfolding at the location.
An overhead unit conducted an aerial sweep but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Even so, it was apparent that several hundred individuals website had come together at the location without any permit or approval.
The Shooting Itself
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies began the process of clearing the park by forming a perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems commanding attendees to vacate the area. Roughly 15 minutes were provided for attendees to disperse.
Just as the crowd began to move that an estimated 20 to 25 shots cut through the air. The rapid succession of shots sent the crowd running in all directions. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies quickly moved to finding those who had been shot.
The Shooting Victims
In total, four people were located with gunshot injuries. The four individuals — comprising three men and one woman each apparently in their early to late twenties — were taken to nearby hospitals. Medical teams stated that two were treated for serious injuries, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one person's injuries were considered minor. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department were called to the scene and provided medical assistance those who had been shot before they were taken to the hospital.
Evidence at the Scene
The main crime scene was believed to have taken place on Cottage Way adjacent to the local Home Depot on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. CSI personnel recovered more spent casings scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet holes were discovered in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the nearby Home Depot. These findings suggested that at least one of the shooters had been sending rounds south from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot. The store itself was locked down for a period of time. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives continued working for hours.
Suspect Information
Information obtained through law enforcement radio communications showed that a Kia had been stopped in the Solano County area. Four occupants were held for questioning. Law enforcement units were sent to retrieve the detainees to return them to Sacramento for further questioning. Video that was reviewed confirmed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.