Sacramento authorities are investigating a gunfire incident that occurred on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park at the time deputies were clearing an unauthorized event of hundreds of attendees.
Before the Gunfire
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially got calls about the park around half past six in the evening after receiving reports of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Not long after, a second caller reported mentioning a possible fight unfolding at Howe Park.
Aerial units conducted an aerial sweep but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Even so, deputies found that hundreds of people had packed into the park without authorization.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Officers worked to disperse the crowd by encircling the gathering and using their vehicle PA systems instructing attendees to vacate the area. About 15 minutes were given for attendees to disperse.
Just as the crowd began to move that upwards of 20 gunshots were discharged. The barrage of gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Responding personnel immediately here began searching for victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
When the dust settled, four shooting victims were discovered with shooting injuries. All four — including a female and three males all reportedly in their 20s — were taken to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical teams indicated that two had critical injury classifications, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Fortunately, each of the four victims was stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department arrived on scene and assisted with medical triage shooting victims at the scene.
Crime Scene Evidence
The center of the incident was confirmed to have been concentrated adjacent to the Cottage Way corridor next to the local Home Depot at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators recovered more spent casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Round impacts were observed in the wrought iron fence alongside the Home Depot. The physical evidence pointed to that a shooter had been firing southward from the Cottage Way area toward the Home Depot. The store itself was temporarily locked down while the scene was active. Crime scene technicians and detectives remained on scene through the early morning hours.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Details gathered through scanner monitoring showed that a vehicle identified as a Kia had been detained in Solano County. Four detainees were held for questioning. Deputies were traveling to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for investigation. Video that was reviewed showed that two individuals had fired weapons.