Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are looking into a gun violence incident that broke out on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park as deputies were shutting down a large unauthorized gathering of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Deputies initially responded to the Arden-Arcade park at about 6:30 in the evening after learning of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Not long after, another report was received about a possible fight unfolding at Howe Park.
A sheriff's airship scanned the area from the air but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Despite this, it was evident that several hundred individuals had gathered without authorization without authorization.
The Shooting Itself
Deputies started clearing the unauthorized gathering by positioning themselves around the crowd and broadcasting over loudspeakers commanding attendees to vacate the area. Nearly 15 minutes were provided for the crowd to leave.
As the crowd was being cleared that between 20 and 25 rounds rang out. The sudden gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Deputies swiftly started finding those who had been shot.
The Shooting Victims
Altogether, four individuals were discovered with shooting injuries. The victims — comprising three men and one woman each apparently in their 20s — were airlifted or driven to area medical facilities. Hospital staff indicated that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one sustained moderate wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. As of last report, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District also responded and helped care for those who had been shot on location.
Crime Scene Evidence
The bulk of the shooting was determined to have occurred adjacent to the Cottage Way side of the park near the local Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Crime scene investigators identified additional shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Round impacts were observed in the metal fencing adjacent to the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence suggested that a shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. That Home Depot get more info location was placed on lockdown as a precaution. Crime scene technicians and detectives stayed at the location through the early morning hours.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Reports confirmed over scanner radio traffic confirmed that a Kia had been stopped in an area within Solano County. Four individuals were taken into custody. Sacramento law enforcement were en route to collect those detained to transport the detainees for processing in Sacramento County. Footage analyzed by investigators established that two separate shooters participated in the incident.