Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are examining a shooting incident that occurred on the evening of April 18 at Howe Park in Sacramento just as deputies were shutting down an unsanctioned gathering of several hundred people.
Before the Gunfire
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first dispatched to Howe Park shortly before 6:30 PM on April 18 after learning of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Soon after, a second call came in regarding a reported physical confrontation breaking out within the park grounds.
An overhead unit flew over the park but came back with no confirmation of a fight. However, deputies found that several hundred individuals had assembled at the park without official sanction.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Officers moved to clear the area by positioning themselves around the crowd and making announcements directing the assembled crowd to leave immediately. About 15 minutes were allowed for people to comply.
It was during this dispersal that between 20 and 25 rounds cut through the air. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede. Law enforcement swiftly started locating gunshot victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
In total, four victims were located with gunshot injuries. The victims — a group of one female and three male victims all believed to be in their twenties — were transported to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Medical teams noted that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one read more had injuries classified as minor. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire arrived on scene and aided in treating the four victims before they were taken to the hospital.
Crime Scene Evidence
The main crime scene was determined to have happened on Cottage Way adjacent to the Home Depot store on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Investigators discovered extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were discovered in the iron perimeter fence adjacent to the Home Depot store. The physical evidence pointed to that a shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area aimed at the Home Depot. The store itself was locked down while law enforcement worked the area. Crime scene personnel stayed at the location through the early morning hours.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received through scanner monitoring confirmed that a Kia vehicle was pulled over in Solano County. Four detainees were taken into custody. Law enforcement units were sent to retrieve the detainees to return them to Sacramento for questioning. Video evidence made clear that there were two gunmen.