Law enforcement in Sacramento are looking into a shooting incident that erupted on the evening of April 18 at Howe Park as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were shutting down a large unsanctioned party of a crowd of several hundred.
How It Started
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were first called to Howe Park around half past six in the evening after learning of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Soon after, additional information came in about a potential altercation breaking out within the park grounds.
A law enforcement helicopter flew over the park but came back with no confirmation of a fight. However, deputies found that a massive group had come together at the location in an unauthorized manner.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Officers set about removing people from the park by forming a perimeter and issuing commands over loudspeakers telling attendees to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were provided for the gathering to break up.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that 20 to 25 gunshots were discharged. The shots caused mass panic. Deputies swiftly started finding those who had been shot.
The Shooting Victims
In total, four individuals were found to have been shot. Those injured — consisting of one woman and three men each apparently in their early to late twenties — were transported to nearby hospitals. Emergency physicians confirmed that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one sustained moderate wounds, and one suffered minor injuries. According to authorities, each of the four victims was stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento assisted at the location and aided in treating those with gunshot wounds on location.
What Investigators Found
Most of the gunfire was determined to have happened along the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the local Home Depot at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. CSI personnel located additional spent rounds scattered along Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were noted in the iron perimeter fence near the nearby Home Depot. This evidence showed that a shooter had been aiming south from the Cottage Way area in the direction of the Home Depot building and Cottage Way shooting Sacramento parking lot. That Home Depot location was temporarily locked down while the scene was active. CSI investigators and detectives stayed at the location for hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Information obtained through scanner monitoring indicated that a Kia vehicle was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County California. Four suspects were detained. Law enforcement units were heading to pick up the four detainees to return them to Sacramento for processing in Sacramento County. Video reviewed at the scene established that there were two gunmen.