Law enforcement in Sacramento are examining a violent incident that unfolded Saturday night April 18 at Howe Park just as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were clearing an unlawful assembly of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Law enforcement initially responded to Howe Community Park around 6:30 in the evening after getting calls of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Not long after, a follow-up call was made about a possible physical fight happening at Howe Park.
Aerial units flew over the park but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Even so, it was apparent that hundreds of people had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
When the Shots Rang here Out
Deputies began the process of clearing the park by positioning themselves around the crowd and announcing over their public address systems telling attendees to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were spent for the crowd to leave.
As the crowd was being cleared that 20 to 25 gunshots rang out. The barrage of gunfire caused mass panic. Responding personnel swiftly started looking for those injured.
The Shooting Victims
Ultimately, four shooting victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. The victims — made up of one woman and three men each apparently in their mid to late twenties — were taken to nearby hospitals. Medical teams confirmed that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, 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 District provided support and aided in treating the injured prior to hospital transport.
Crime Scene Evidence
The bulk of the shooting was believed to have happened adjacent to Cottage Way next to the local Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Crime scene investigators recovered further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings along Cottage Way. Bullet holes were also found in the metal fencing near the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence indicated that a shooter had been sending rounds south from along Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was secured under a brief lockdown as a precaution. Crime scene technicians and detectives continued working for hours.
Suspects Detained
Reports confirmed via scanner audio indicated that a vehicle identified as a Kia was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County. Four detainees were detained. Sheriff's units were dispatched to Solano County to transport the detainees for formal questioning. Footage analyzed by investigators made clear that there were two gunmen.