Sacramento County deputies are looking into a violent incident that broke out Saturday evening at the Howe Community Park area at the time Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were clearing an unauthorized event of hundreds of attendees.
Prior to the Shooting
Sacramento County law enforcement first arrived at Howe Community Park at approximately half past six in the evening after getting calls of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Following that, a follow-up call was made about a reported physical confrontation occurring inside the park.
An overhead unit conducted an aerial sweep but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. However, deputies found that hundreds of people had gathered without authorization without authorization.
The Shooting Itself
Deputies began the process of clearing the park by setting up around the park's perimeter and broadcasting over loudspeakers ordering those gathered to leave immediately. Approximately 15 minutes were spent for attendees to disperse.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. Gunfire caused mass panic. Responding personnel wasted no time in searching for victims.
Those Who Were Hit
Ultimately, four people were identified as having gunshot wounds. All four — made up of one woman and three men each reported to be in their early to late twenties — were transported to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Medical teams noted that two had critical injury classifications, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one suffered minor injuries. In a positive development, all four victims survived and were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department arrived on scene and provided medical assistance the injured on location.
What Investigators Found
The center of the incident seemed to have happened along the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the Home Depot situated at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Detectives recovered extra shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were noted in the wrought iron fence alongside the Home Howe Park shooting Sacramento Depot. This ballistic evidence pointed to that a second shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot. The Home Depot was locked down during the incident. Crime scene technicians and detectives continued working for hours.
Suspect Information
Information obtained over police scanner frequencies showed that a vehicle identified as a Kia was intercepted in nearby Solano County. Four individuals were held for questioning. Sheriff's units were sent to retrieve the detainees to return them to Sacramento for questioning. Video evidence made clear that there were two gunmen.