Sacramento authorities are investigating a shooting that erupted late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were breaking up a large unauthorized gathering of multiple hundreds of people.
Background
Deputies were first dispatched to Howe Park at approximately 6:30 Saturday evening after being notified of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. After that, a second call came in concerning a potential altercation occurring at Howe Park.
Air support conducted an aerial sweep but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Nevertheless, it became clear that an enormous crowd had packed into the park without authorization.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Law enforcement personnel worked to disperse the crowd by positioning themselves around the crowd and announcing over their public address systems directing attendees to go home. About 15 minutes were allowed for individuals to vacate.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 gunshots echoed through the night. The shots sent the crowd running in all directions. Officers wasted no time in identifying shooting victims.
Four Gunshot Victims
By the time the scene was secured, four gunshot victims were found to have been shot. The shooting victims — a group of one female and three male victims all believed to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were brought to area medical facilities. Hospital staff stated that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one had moderate injuries, and one suffered minor injuries. In a positive development, each of the four victims was stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District assisted at the location and assisted with medical triage the four victims on location.
Evidence at the Scene
The center of the incident was believed to have been concentrated adjacent to the Cottage Way side of the park next to the Home Depot store situated click here at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Crime scene investigators recovered extra shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet holes were identified in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the Home Depot. This evidence suggested that a second shooter had been sending rounds south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The nearby Home Depot was put under lockdown during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives continued working late into the evening.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received via scanner audio confirmed that a Kia vehicle was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County California. Four people were detained. Deputies were en route to collect those detained to transport the detainees for questioning. Video reviewed at the scene revealed that two shooters had been involved.