Sacramento County deputies are looking into a shooting incident that broke out Saturday evening at Howe Park as law enforcement were clearing an unsanctioned gathering of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Background
Law enforcement first arrived at Howe Park just after 6:30 Saturday evening after getting calls of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Soon after, a second caller reported concerning a possible fight taking place inside the park.
A sheriff's airship was sent to survey the area but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Despite this, deputies found that a crowd of several hundred had congregated at Howe Park without permission.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies moved to clear the area by surrounding the park and using their vehicle PA systems instructing the assembled crowd to clear out. Around 15 minutes were provided for individuals to vacate.
As the crowd was being cleared that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were discharged. The sudden gunfire caused mass panic. Deputies wasted no time in identifying shooting victims.
The Shooting Victims
In total, four victims were located with gunshot injuries. The shooting victims — including a female and three males each apparently in their 20s — were rushed to Sacramento area hospitals. Emergency physicians confirmed that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Fortunately, each of the four victims was stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire arrived on scene and helped care for the injured on location.
The Investigation
The primary shooting scene was confirmed to have happened near the Cottage Way corridor close to the local Home Depot on the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Investigators found additional shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Round impacts were identified in the metal fencing near the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries indicated that at least one of the shooters had been aiming south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was secured under a brief lockdown click here for a period of time. CSI units alongside detectives kept processing evidence for hours.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received over scanner radio traffic showed that a Kia vehicle was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County. Four detainees were detained. Deputies were en route to collect those detained to return them to Sacramento for formal questioning. Surveillance footage showed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.