Law enforcement in Sacramento are probing a gun violence incident that erupted Saturday evening at Howe Community Park just as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were shutting down a large unauthorized gathering of multiple hundreds of people.
How It Started
Law enforcement initially responded to the Arden-Arcade park shortly before 6:30 Saturday evening after obtaining information of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. After that, a second call came in mentioning an alleged brawl breaking out near the park.
An overhead unit was sent to survey the area but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Nevertheless, it was apparent that hundreds of people had congregated at Howe Park without permission.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Deputies began the process of clearing the park by setting up around the park's perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems ordering attendees to vacate the area. About 15 minutes were allowed for attendees to disperse.
At the height of the dispersal effort that upwards of 20 gunshots were discharged. Gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Responding personnel immediately began looking for those injured.
The Shooting Victims
When the dust settled, four gunshot victims were located with gunshot injuries. Those injured — comprising three men and one woman all believed to be in their 20s — were taken to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Emergency physicians confirmed that two victims were in serious condition, one sustained moderate wounds, and one had injuries classified as minor. As of last report, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Sacramento fire crews provided support and assisted with medical triage those who had been shot at the scene.
Physical Evidence
The bulk of the shooting appears to have occurred along the Cottage Way corridor close to the Home Depot store at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Crime scene investigators found extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were observed in the iron fence alongside the Home Depot. The physical evidence confirmed that at least one shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area in the direction of the Home Depot building and parking lot. The store itself was temporarily locked down during the incident. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives worked tirelessly throughout the night.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received via scanner audio revealed that a suspect Kia was pulled over in the Solano County area. Four people were taken into custody. Sacramento law enforcement were sent to retrieve the detainees website to return them to Sacramento for further questioning. Video reviewed at the scene showed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.