Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are working a gun violence incident that took place on the evening of April 18 at the Howe Community Park area at the time officers were dissolving an unauthorized event of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Before the Gunfire
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially responded to Howe Park shortly before 6:30 PM after being notified of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Shortly after, another report was received regarding an alleged brawl breaking out within the park grounds.
A sheriff's airship 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 permission.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by forming a perimeter and issuing commands over loudspeakers instructing the crowd to disperse at once. Approximately 15 minutes were allowed for the crowd to leave.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that upwards of 20 gunshots were fired. The sudden gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Officers swiftly started searching for victims.
The Shooting Victims
In total, four victims were confirmed as gunshot victims. The shooting victims — including a female and three males all reportedly in their mid to late twenties — were rushed to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical personnel reported that two here of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one suffered minor injuries. In a positive development, all four were in stable condition.
Sacramento Metro Fire arrived on scene and aided in treating those who had been shot at the scene.
Physical Evidence
The primary shooting scene was confirmed to have taken place on the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the Home Depot store on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Investigators identified additional spent rounds on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet holes were noted in the iron perimeter fence near the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence pointed to that one of the gunmen had been discharging rounds toward the south from Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown during the incident. Crime scene personnel stayed at the location through the early morning hours.
Suspects Detained
Reports confirmed through law enforcement radio communications confirmed that a Kia connected to the shooting was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County California. Four detainees were taken into custody. Sacramento law enforcement were dispatched to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for investigation. Footage analyzed by investigators established that two individuals had fired weapons.