Sacramento authorities are looking into a shooting that unfolded late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area at the time deputies were dispersing a large unsanctioned party of a crowd of several hundred.
Background
Sacramento County law enforcement were first dispatched to Howe Community Park at approximately 6:30 PM on April 18 after getting calls of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Not long after, a second call came in concerning a potential altercation breaking out within the park grounds.
Air support was sent to survey the area unauthorized gathering shooting Sacramento but reported no active disturbance. Regardless, it was apparent that hundreds of people had gathered without authorization without authorization.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Deputies moved to clear the area by surrounding the park and issuing commands over loudspeakers instructing the crowd to vacate the area. About 15 minutes were allotted for the gathering to break up.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 gunshots rang out. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede. Responding personnel swiftly started identifying shooting victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Altogether, four shooting victims were located with gunshot injuries. All four — a group of one female and three male victims all believed to be in their twenties — were airlifted or driven to area medical facilities. Medical personnel reported that two victims were in serious condition, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one suffered minor injuries. As of last report, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento fire crews also responded and helped triage the four victims before they were taken to the hospital.
Physical Evidence
The center of the incident seemed to have happened along Cottage Way near the Home Depot on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators located extra shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Ballistic damage were also found in the iron fence near the nearby Home Depot. These findings showed that a shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown while law enforcement worked the area. Crime scene personnel stayed at the location for hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Reports confirmed over scanner radio traffic indicated that a Kia vehicle had been detained in Solano County California. Four individuals were detained. Law enforcement units were en route to collect those detained to bring the suspects back for questioning. Video that was reviewed established that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.