Sacramento County deputies are examining a gunfire incident that unfolded Saturday evening at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area while law enforcement were dispersing a large unauthorized gathering of hundreds of attendees.
Prior to the Shooting
Sacramento County law enforcement were first called to the park on Howe Avenue around 6:30 Saturday evening after learning of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Shortly after, a second caller reported concerning an alleged brawl happening at the location.
Aerial units flew over the park but reported no active disturbance. Regardless, deputies found that several hundred individuals had packed into the park without authorization.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Deputies moved to clear the area by surrounding the park and making announcements instructing those gathered to go home. Roughly 15 minutes were provided for the crowd to leave.
Just as the crowd began to move that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition echoed through the night. The rapid succession of shots triggered a stampede. Officers immediately began searching for victims.
Those Who Were Hit
Ultimately, four individuals were identified as having gunshot wounds. All four — a group of one female and three male victims all reportedly in their 20s at the time of the incident — were brought to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Emergency physicians stated that two had critical injury classifications, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one person's injuries were considered click here minor. According to authorities, all four were expected to survive.
Metro Fire Sacramento were called to the scene and helped triage shooting victims before they were taken to the hospital.
What Investigators Found
The main crime scene seemed to have happened near the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the Home Depot store located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators identified more spent casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Round impacts were identified in the wrought iron fence adjacent to the Home Depot. This evidence suggested that a second shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot store. The store itself was placed on lockdown while the scene was active. Crime scene personnel stayed at the location for hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Information obtained over police scanner frequencies revealed that a Kia was contacted by law enforcement in the Solano County area. Four suspects were detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were traveling to Solano County to pick up those detained for further questioning. Footage analyzed by investigators showed that two shooters had been involved.