Law enforcement in Sacramento are investigating a violent incident that occurred on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area while deputies were dissolving a large unauthorized gathering of multiple hundreds of people.
How It Started
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially got calls about Howe Park at approximately 6:30 PM after receiving reports of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Not long after, a second caller reported mentioning a reported physical confrontation taking place inside the park.
A sheriff's airship searched from above but came back with no confirmation of a fight. However, it became clear that several hundred individuals had congregated at Howe Park without authorization.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by positioning themselves around the crowd and broadcasting over loudspeakers telling the assembled crowd to vacate the area. About 15 minutes were given for the crowd to leave.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. Gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Deputies wasted no time in looking for those injured.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Ultimately, four individuals were identified as having gunshot wounds. The victims — made up of one woman and three men ranging in age through their in their early to late twenties — were airlifted or driven to area medical facilities. Medical teams confirmed that two victims were in serious condition, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, all four victims survived and were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento were called to the scene and provided medical assistance those who had been shot at the park.
Physical Evidence
The center of the incident was believed to have unfolded on Cottage Way near the Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Investigators recovered further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Ballistic damage were also found in the wrought iron perimeter fencing surrounding the Home Depot store. These findings indicated that one of the gunmen had been shooting in a southerly direction from the Cottage Way area in the direction of the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown as a precaution. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives kept processing evidence throughout the night.
Detainees in Solano County
Reports confirmed over police scanner frequencies confirmed that a Kia had been detained in an area within Solano County. Four detainees were detained. Sacramento law enforcement were en route to collect those detained to bring the suspects back for formal questioning. Video get more info evidence confirmed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.