Sacramento authorities are working a shooting that occurred late Saturday at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dispersing a large unauthorized gathering of a crowd of several hundred.
How It Started
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially got calls about Howe Community Park at about 6:30 PM on April 18 after obtaining information of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Not long after, a follow-up call was made mentioning a potential altercation happening within the park grounds.
Aerial units was sent to survey the area but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Regardless, authorities discovered that a crowd of several hundred had packed into the park without permission.
When the Shots Rang Out
Responding units moved to clear the area by setting up around the park's perimeter and broadcasting over loudspeakers instructing the assembled crowd to clear out. Roughly 15 minutes were provided for people to comply.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that an estimated 20 to 25 shots were fired. The barrage of gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Responding personnel quickly moved to identifying shooting victims.
The Shooting Victims
Altogether, four victims were discovered with shooting injuries. The four individuals — a group of one female and three male victims ranging in age through their in their twenties — were taken to area medical facilities. Medical personnel noted that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one person's injuries were considered minor. According to authorities, each of the four victims was stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento were called to the scene and helped triage shooting victims at the park.
Physical Evidence
The primary shooting scene was believed to read more have been concentrated adjacent to Cottage Way close to the Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators found extra shell casings along Cottage Way. Bullet holes were noted in the metal fencing near the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries confirmed that a second shooter had been sending rounds south from Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot building and parking lot. That Home Depot location was locked down as a precaution. Crime scene technicians and detectives continued working for hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Intelligence received over scanner radio traffic revealed that a Kia vehicle had been detained in nearby Solano County. Four individuals were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sheriff's units were en route to collect those detained to bring the suspects back for questioning. Surveillance footage confirmed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.