Law enforcement in Sacramento are investigating a shooting incident that occurred Saturday night April 18 at Howe Park in Sacramento at the moment officers were dissolving an unsanctioned gathering of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Prior to the Shooting
Law enforcement were first called to the park on Howe Avenue shortly before 6:30 PM after learning of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. After that, additional information came in about a possible fight occurring inside the park.
Air support scanned the area from the air but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Even so, authorities discovered that an enormous crowd had congregated at Howe Park in an unauthorized manner.
The Shooting Itself
Deputies started clearing the unauthorized gathering by setting up around the park's perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems commanding attendees to clear out. Nearly 15 minutes were given for the crowd to leave.
Just as the crowd began to move that between 20 and 25 rounds were discharged. The rapid succession of shots sent the crowd running in all directions. Law enforcement immediately began looking for those injured.
Those Who Were Hit
By the time the scene was secured, four gunshot victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. Those injured — including a female and three males ranging in age through their in their twenties — were brought to area medical facilities. Medical teams noted that two had critical injury classifications, one of the four had moderate more info gunshot wounds, and one person's injuries were considered minor. As of last report, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento arrived on scene and helped care for the injured before they were taken to the hospital.
Crime Scene Evidence
The main crime scene was determined to have occurred near the Cottage Way side of the park near the local Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators identified further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Projectile impacts were also found in the wrought iron perimeter fencing adjacent to the nearby Home Depot. The physical evidence confirmed that at least one of the shooters had been aiming south from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives continued working well into the night.
Suspect Information
Details gathered through scanner monitoring confirmed that a Kia was contacted by law enforcement in an area within Solano County. Four occupants were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sheriff's units were heading to pick up the four detainees to transport the detainees for processing in Sacramento County. Footage analyzed by investigators established that two individuals had fired weapons.