Officials in Sacramento County are looking into a gun violence incident that took place Saturday evening at Howe Community Park as officers were dissolving an unsanctioned gathering of an estimated several hundred individuals.
How It Started
Law enforcement initially got calls about Howe Park at approximately half past six in the evening after getting calls of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Shortly after, additional information came in about a potential altercation taking place within the park grounds.
An overhead unit flew over the park but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Despite this, it was apparent that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Responding units began the process of clearing the park by encircling the gathering and broadcasting over loudspeakers telling attendees to go home. About 15 minutes were spent for people to comply.
Just as the crowd began to move that between 20 and 25 rounds rang out. Gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Deputies at once began looking for those injured.
Four Victims Hospitalized
By the time the scene was secured, four shooting victims were located with gunshot injuries. All four — a group of one female and three male victims each reported to be in their mid to late twenties — were taken to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Hospital staff stated that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one had moderate injuries, and one person's injuries were considered minor. According to authorities, all four victims survived and were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento arrived on scene and provided medical assistance those with gunshot wounds on location.
Crime Scene Evidence
The center of the incident was determined to have occurred along Cottage Way close to the local Home Depot at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Detectives discovered additional spent rounds on Cottage Way. Round impacts were also found in the iron perimeter fence near the Home Depot store. This ballistic evidence confirmed that at least Sacramento County Sheriff shooting investigation one of the shooters had been sending rounds south from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot store. The store itself was locked down for a period of time. Crime scene technicians and detectives stayed at the location for hours.
Arrests Made
Details gathered via scanner audio indicated that a suspect Kia had been stopped in an area within Solano County. Four people were stopped and detained. Sacramento law enforcement were traveling to Solano County to bring the suspects back for investigation. Video evidence confirmed that two shooters had been involved.