Sacramento authorities are investigating a shooting that unfolded Saturday night April 18 at Howe Park in Sacramento at the time Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were shutting down an unsanctioned gathering of hundreds of attendees.
Background
Sacramento County law enforcement first arrived at the Arden-Arcade park around half past six in the evening after learning of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Soon after, a second caller reported mentioning a potential altercation happening within the park grounds.
A sheriff's airship searched from above but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Regardless, it was evident that hundreds of people had congregated at Howe Park in an unauthorized manner.
When the Shots Rang Out
Law enforcement personnel moved to clear the area by surrounding the park and making announcements commanding the hundreds present to disperse at once. Approximately 15 minutes were given for individuals to vacate.
As the crowd was being cleared that 20 to 25 gunshots rang out. The check here rapid succession of shots triggered a stampede. Law enforcement quickly moved to searching for victims.
Those Who Were Hit
In total, four shooting victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. The four individuals — made up of one woman and three men ranging in age through their in their 20s at the time of the incident — were transported to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Medical teams indicated that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one had injuries classified as minor. As of last report, all four were in stable condition.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District were called to the scene and provided medical assistance those who had been shot on location.
What Investigators Found
The primary shooting scene was confirmed to have unfolded along Cottage Way next to the Home Depot store located at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Detectives discovered more spent casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Bullet holes were observed in the wrought iron fence bordering the Home Depot. These discoveries suggested that at least one of the shooters had been sending rounds south from the Cottage Way area toward the Home Depot building and parking lot. The Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives remained on scene through the early morning hours.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Information relayed through scanner monitoring revealed that a suspect Kia had been detained in nearby Solano County. Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento law enforcement were traveling to Solano County to collect the individuals for formal questioning. Surveillance footage made clear that two separate shooters participated in the incident.