Law enforcement here in Sacramento are probing a shooting incident that took place late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area as deputies were shutting down an unsanctioned gathering of hundreds of attendees.
Prior to the Shooting
Law enforcement initially responded to the park on Howe Avenue at approximately 6:30 PM on April 18 after getting calls of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Following that, a follow-up call was made about a potential altercation taking place within the park grounds.
A law enforcement helicopter conducted an aerial sweep but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Even so, it became clear that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
When the Shots Rang Out
Law enforcement personnel started clearing the unauthorized gathering by forming a perimeter and issuing commands over loudspeakers instructing the crowd to vacate the area. Nearly 15 minutes were allowed for the crowd to leave.
As the crowd was being cleared that 20 to 25 gunshots cut through the air. The sudden gunfire caused mass panic. Law enforcement swiftly started looking for those injured.
Four Victims Hospitalized
By the time the scene was secured, four victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. All four — comprising three men and one woman all reportedly in their twenties — were rushed to local Sacramento hospitals. Hospital staff noted that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one had moderate injuries, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Thankfully, each of the four victims was stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento were called to the scene and helped care for the four victims on location.
Physical Evidence
The main crime scene seemed to have happened near Cottage Way close to the Home Depot store at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Detectives located further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet holes were also found in the wrought iron perimeter fencing surrounding the Home Depot store. This ballistic evidence suggested that at least one of the shooters had been shooting in a southerly direction from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot store. The nearby Home Depot was locked down while the scene was active. CSI units alongside detectives stayed at the location late into the evening.
Suspects Detained
Reports confirmed over police scanner frequencies showed that a suspect Kia was pulled over in Solano County California. Four people were taken into custody. Sacramento law enforcement were traveling to Solano County to bring the suspects back for further questioning. Surveillance footage revealed that there were two gunmen.