Officials in Sacramento County are probing a violent incident that took place late Saturday at Howe Park at the moment deputies were clearing a large unauthorized gathering of a crowd of several hundred.
Prior to the Shooting
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first dispatched to Howe Community Park at about 6:30 PM on April 18 after getting calls of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Soon after, a follow-up call was made describing a possible fight unfolding inside the park.
A law enforcement helicopter was sent to survey the area but reported no active disturbance. Regardless, deputies found that an enormous crowd had packed into the park without any permit or approval.
When the Shots Rang Out
Deputies worked to disperse the crowd by encircling the gathering and issuing commands over loudspeakers instructing the assembled crowd to vacate the area. Nearly 15 minutes were spent for individuals to vacate.
As the crowd was being cleared that an estimated 20 to 25 shots echoed through the night. The rapid succession of shots sent the crowd running in all directions. Deputies immediately began searching for victims.
Those Who Were Hit
Ultimately, four shooting victims were discovered with shooting injuries. Those injured — a group of one female and three male victims all reportedly in their early to late twenties — were taken to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical teams indicated that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one person's injuries were considered minor. According to authorities, all four were in stable condition.
Sacramento Metro Fire also responded and helped triage those with gunshot wounds prior to hospital transport.
What Investigators Found
The center of the incident was confirmed to have been concentrated along Cottage Way close to the Home Depot located website at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. CSI personnel identified additional shell casings along Cottage Way. Bullet holes were also found in the wrought iron fence adjacent to the Home Depot. This evidence pointed to that a shooter had been aiming south from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot store. The store itself was placed on lockdown during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives kept processing evidence throughout the night.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received through law enforcement radio communications revealed that a suspect Kia had been stopped in Solano County. Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Law enforcement units were dispatched to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for questioning. Video that was reviewed revealed that two shooters had been involved.