Officials in Sacramento County are probing a gun violence incident that unfolded on the evening of April 18 at the Howe Community Park area at the time authorities were dissolving an unsanctioned gathering of several hundred people.
Before the Gunfire
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first dispatched to Howe Community Park shortly before 6:30 Saturday evening after obtaining information of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Soon after, a second caller reported concerning a reported physical confrontation unfolding near the park.
An overhead unit conducted an aerial sweep but reported no active disturbance. Even so, it was apparent that hundreds of people had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Responding units set about removing people from the park by surrounding the park and issuing commands over loudspeakers commanding attendees to leave immediately. About 15 minutes were allotted for the crowd to leave.
Just as the crowd began to move that between 20 and 25 rounds cut through the air. The shots caused mass panic. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies wasted no time in searching for victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Ultimately, four individuals were located with gunshot injuries. The four individuals — a group of one female and three male victims each reported to be in their mid to late twenties — were rushed to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical teams reported that two victims were in serious condition, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one suffered minor injuries. Fortunately, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento here Metropolitan Fire Department arrived on scene and helped triage the injured before they were taken to the hospital.
Crime Scene Evidence
Most of the gunfire was believed to have taken place adjacent to Cottage Way alongside the Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators located additional spent rounds scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were identified in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the nearby Home Depot. This evidence pointed to that a second shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was locked down while law enforcement worked the area. CSI investigators and detectives remained on scene late into the evening.
Suspects Detained
Reports confirmed through law enforcement radio communications indicated that a Kia connected to the shooting was pulled over in Solano County. Four suspects were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sheriff's units were traveling to Solano County to pick up those detained for processing in Sacramento County. Video evidence revealed that two shooters had been involved.