Officials in Sacramento County are working a violent incident that unfolded on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park at the moment authorities were dissolving an unsanctioned gathering of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first called to the park on Howe Avenue around 6:30 PM after being notified of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. After that, a follow-up call was made regarding a possible fight breaking out at the location.
Aerial units scanned the area from the air but reported no active disturbance. However, deputies found that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park without official sanction.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel set about removing people from the park by encircling the gathering and making announcements directing attendees to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were spent for attendees to disperse.
As the crowd was being cleared that 20 to 25 gunshots echoed through the night. Gunfire triggered a stampede. Law enforcement quickly moved to searching for victims.
Four People Shot
Ultimately, four victims were located with gunshot injuries. The shooting victims here — made up of one woman and three men each apparently in their 20s at the time of the incident — were rushed to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Doctors and nurses reported that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one person's injuries were considered minor. Fortunately, all four victims survived and were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento arrived on scene and helped triage shooting victims at the scene.
Evidence at the Scene
The primary shooting scene was confirmed to have occurred adjacent to Cottage Way adjacent to the local Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Crime scene investigators identified additional shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were also found in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence indicated that a shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The Home Depot was locked down while law enforcement worked the area. Crime scene technicians and detectives remained on scene well into the night.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received through law enforcement radio communications indicated that a suspect Kia had been detained in Solano County California. Four individuals were detained. Sacramento law enforcement were heading to pick up the four detainees to collect the individuals for investigation. Video evidence made clear that two shooters had been involved.