Sacramento County deputies are probing a shooting incident that unfolded Saturday night April 18 at the Howe Community Park area just as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dissolving a large unauthorized gathering of several hundred people.
Background
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office first arrived at Howe Community Park at approximately 6:30 PM after getting calls of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. After that, a second caller reported concerning a possible fight occurring near the park.
Air support scanned the area from the air but reported no active disturbance. However, it was apparent that several hundred individuals had assembled at the park without here authorization.
The Shooting Itself
Law enforcement personnel set about removing people from the park by setting up around the park's perimeter and broadcasting over loudspeakers instructing the hundreds present to go home. Around 15 minutes were given for attendees to disperse.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were discharged. The shots sent hundreds fleeing. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies swiftly started searching for victims.
Those Who Were Hit
When the dust settled, four individuals were confirmed as gunshot victims. All four — a group of one female and three male victims all reportedly in their 20s — were transported to local Sacramento hospitals. Emergency physicians indicated that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. In a positive development, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District also responded and helped triage those with gunshot wounds at the park.
Physical Evidence
The center of the incident was believed to have unfolded near the Cottage Way corridor near the Home Depot store located at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. CSI personnel recovered further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet damage were also found in the metal fencing bordering the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence showed that at least one shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot store. That Home Depot location was temporarily locked down while the scene was active. Crime scene personnel remained on scene for hours.
Suspects Detained
Intelligence received via scanner audio showed that a Kia was intercepted in the Solano County area. Four individuals were detained. Law enforcement units were heading to pick up the four detainees to pick up those detained for formal questioning. Video evidence revealed that two shooters had been involved.