Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are probing a shooting that unfolded Saturday evening at Howe Park while officers were shutting down a large unauthorized gathering of hundreds of attendees.
Prior to the Shooting
Sacramento County law enforcement first arrived at the park on Howe Avenue at approximately half past six in the evening after receiving reports of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Soon after, a second call came in describing a potential altercation unfolding at the location.
Air support scanned the area from the air but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Even so, deputies found that hundreds of people had packed into the park without any permit or approval.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Deputies worked to disperse the crowd by forming a perimeter and announcing over their public address systems directing the hundreds present to vacate the area. Nearly 15 minutes were given for the crowd to leave.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were fired. The shots sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Officers at once began searching for victims.
Four People Shot
When the dust settled, four individuals were located with gunshot injuries. The four individuals — consisting of one woman and three men all reportedly in their 20s — were transported to area medical facilities. Emergency physicians confirmed that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, all four were expected to survive.
Metro Fire Sacramento assisted website at the location and assisted with medical triage shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
What Investigators Found
The main crime scene seemed to have unfolded on Cottage Way alongside the local Home Depot located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Investigators identified additional spent rounds scattered along Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were identified in the metal fencing surrounding the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries pointed to that at least one of the shooters had been firing southward from Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was placed on lockdown during the incident. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives worked tirelessly throughout the night.
Suspects Detained
Information obtained through scanner monitoring established that a suspect Kia was intercepted in Solano County California. Four people were held for questioning. Sacramento law enforcement were traveling to Solano County to pick up those detained for investigation. Surveillance footage revealed that two individuals had fired weapons.