Officials in Sacramento County are probing a gunfire incident that unfolded Saturday night April 18 at Howe Park while deputies were clearing an unlawful assembly of multiple hundreds of people.
Before the Gunfire
Deputies were first called to Howe Community Park shortly before 6:30 in the evening after obtaining information of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Shortly after, a second caller reported about a possible fight happening within the park grounds.
An overhead unit searched from above but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Nevertheless, it became clear that several hundred individuals had come together at the location in an unauthorized manner.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Officers worked to disperse the crowd by forming a perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems ordering attendees to go home. About 15 minutes were allotted for the crowd to leave.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 gunshots cut through the air. Gunfire get more info sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Law enforcement wasted no time in looking for those injured.
Four People Shot
Altogether, four gunshot victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. The shooting victims — a group of one female and three male victims ranging in age through their in their 20s — were rushed to area medical facilities. Medical personnel indicated 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. As of last report, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District provided support and provided medical assistance the injured at the park.
Crime Scene Evidence
The bulk of the shooting was believed to have been concentrated along the Cottage Way corridor close to the Home Depot store on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Law enforcement investigators recovered additional spent rounds on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet holes were also found in the iron perimeter fence near the nearby Home Depot. This ballistic evidence showed that one of the gunmen had been sending rounds south from Cottage Way toward the Home Depot building and parking lot. The Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown while the scene was active. CSI investigators and detectives remained on scene for hours.
Suspects Detained
Information obtained over scanner radio traffic revealed that a Kia had been stopped in an area within Solano County. Four suspects were detained. Deputies were traveling to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for further questioning. Video reviewed at the scene made clear that there were two gunmen.