Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are investigating a gun violence incident that occurred Saturday night April 18 at the Howe Community Park area at the moment officers were dissolving an unlawful assembly of multiple hundreds of people.
What Led to the Shooting
Sacramento County law enforcement initially got calls about Howe Community Park just after 6:30 in the evening after getting calls of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Following that, additional information came in mentioning a possible fight breaking out within the park grounds.
Air support conducted an aerial sweep but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Regardless, it was apparent that an enormous crowd had packed into the park without official sanction.
When the Shots Rang Out
Law enforcement personnel started clearing the unauthorized gathering by forming a perimeter and issuing commands over read more loudspeakers telling the hundreds present to clear out. Approximately 15 minutes were provided for the crowd to leave.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition rang out. The rapid succession of shots sent hundreds fleeing. Responding personnel immediately began looking for those injured.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Altogether, four people were discovered with shooting injuries. The victims — made up of one woman and three men ranging in age through their in their twenties — were rushed to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Doctors and nurses reported that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one victim's wounds were minor. Fortunately, all four victims survived and were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department arrived on scene and assisted with medical triage shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
Crime Scene Evidence
Most of the gunfire was believed to have occurred on the Cottage Way side of the park close to the Home Depot store on the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Law enforcement investigators identified extra shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet damage were noted in the iron perimeter fence bordering the nearby Home Depot. This evidence suggested that at least one shooter had been aiming south from Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The Home Depot was locked down while law enforcement worked the area. Crime scene technicians and detectives stayed at the location late into the evening.
Arrests Made
Information relayed over scanner radio traffic showed that a vehicle identified as a Kia was contacted by law enforcement in nearby Solano County. Four occupants were taken into custody. Deputies were dispatched to Solano County to collect the individuals for investigation. Footage analyzed by investigators showed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.