Officials in Sacramento County are probing a gun violence incident that broke out Saturday night April 18 at the Howe Community Park area just as law enforcement were shutting down an unlawful assembly of an estimated several hundred individuals.
What Led to the Shooting
Law enforcement were first dispatched to the park around half past six in the evening after getting calls of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Shortly after, another report was received mentioning a possible physical fight breaking out within the park grounds.
Air support conducted an aerial sweep but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. However, it was apparent that hundreds of people had packed into the park without official sanction.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Law enforcement personnel worked to disperse the crowd by forming a perimeter and issuing commands over loudspeakers instructing the assembled crowd to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were allotted for attendees to disperse.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that upwards of 20 gunshots rang out. The shots sent the crowd running in all directions. Responding personnel quickly moved to identifying shooting victims.
The Shooting Victims
When the dust settled, four people were confirmed as gunshot victims. All four — comprising three men and one woman all reportedly in their 20s — were transported to area medical facilities. Medical teams noted that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one person's injuries were considered minor. According to authorities, each of the four victims was stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District arrived on scene and helped care for the injured on location.
What Investigators Found
The main crime scene was confirmed to have happened on Cottage Way close to the local Home Depot on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators found further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Ballistic damage were noted in the metal fencing adjacent to the Home Depot. These discoveries suggested that at least one of the shooters had been firing southward from the Cottage Way area in the direction of the Home Depot building and parking lot. That Home Depot location was placed on get more info lockdown while the scene was active. Crime scene personnel kept processing evidence late into the evening.
Detainees in Solano County
Intelligence received over scanner radio traffic showed that a suspect Kia was pulled over in the Solano County area. Four detainees were detained. Sacramento law enforcement were dispatched to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for formal questioning. Video reviewed at the scene showed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.