Officials in Sacramento County are working a gunfire incident that erupted Saturday evening at Howe Park in Sacramento just as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were clearing an unlawful assembly of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Before the Gunfire
Sacramento County law enforcement initially responded to Howe Park at approximately 6:30 Saturday evening after being notified of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Following that, a second caller reported concerning a reported physical confrontation happening at the location.
An overhead unit conducted an aerial sweep but was unable to locate the reported altercation. However, it was apparent that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park without authorization.
The Shooting Itself
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies started clearing the unauthorized gathering Howe Park Sacramento gunfire by forming a perimeter and making announcements commanding attendees to clear out. Roughly 15 minutes were allotted for attendees to disperse.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. The barrage of gunfire caused mass panic. Responding personnel at once began finding those who had been shot.
Four People Shot
When the dust settled, four individuals were discovered with shooting injuries. The four individuals — consisting of one woman and three men all believed to be in their mid to late twenties — were rushed to nearby hospitals. Medical teams reported that two victims were in serious condition, one sustained moderate wounds, and one had injuries classified as minor. In a positive development, all four were in stable condition.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department were called to the scene and helped triage shooting victims on location.
The Investigation
The bulk of the shooting was believed to have occurred on the Cottage Way side of the park adjacent to the Home Depot situated at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators identified extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Bullet damage were also found in the wrought iron perimeter fencing alongside the nearby Home Depot. These findings showed that one of the gunmen had been sending rounds south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot. The Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives remained on scene late into the evening.
Detainees in Solano County
Reports confirmed over police scanner frequencies revealed that a Kia connected to the shooting had been stopped in nearby Solano County. Four detainees were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sheriff's units were heading to pick up the four detainees to bring the suspects back for formal questioning. Surveillance footage confirmed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.