Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are probing a gunfire incident that erupted late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area at the moment deputies were dissolving an unlawful assembly of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Deputies were first called to the park around 6:30 Saturday evening after being notified of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Following that, a second caller reported mentioning a potential altercation occurring inside the park.
Air support searched from above but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Regardless, it was apparent that hundreds of people had come together at the location without official sanction.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel started clearing the unauthorized gathering by encircling the gathering and making announcements ordering the crowd to vacate the area. Nearly 15 minutes were spent for the crowd to leave.
As the crowd was being cleared that an estimated 20 to 25 shots were discharged. Gunfire caused mass panic. Responding personnel immediately began locating gunshot victims.
Four Gunshot Victims
When the dust settled, four people were confirmed as gunshot victims. The four individuals — including a female and three males ranging in age through get more info their in their 20s — were transported to local Sacramento hospitals. Doctors and nurses indicated that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one suffered minor injuries. Fortunately, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department arrived on scene and helped care for shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
Crime Scene Evidence
The center of the incident was determined to have unfolded near the Cottage Way corridor near the Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Crime scene investigators located extra shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were identified in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the Home Depot store. These discoveries showed that at least one of the shooters had been sending rounds south from along Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot. The store itself was temporarily locked down while law enforcement worked the area. CSI investigators and detectives worked tirelessly well into the night.
Arrests Made
Information relayed via scanner audio indicated that a Kia had been stopped in nearby Solano County. Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Solano County to bring the suspects back for further questioning. Surveillance footage made clear that two separate shooters participated in the incident.