Sacramento authorities are working a gun violence incident that occurred on the evening of April 18 at Howe Park just as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dissolving a large unsanctioned party of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were first Home Depot Sacramento shooting called to the park around half past six in the evening after learning of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Not long after, a follow-up call was made regarding a reported physical confrontation happening at Howe Park.
A sheriff's airship was sent to survey the area but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Nevertheless, it became clear that several hundred individuals had packed into the park without official sanction.
When the Shots Rang Out
Deputies started clearing the unauthorized gathering by surrounding the park and issuing commands over loudspeakers directing attendees to go home. Approximately 15 minutes were given for individuals to vacate.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that between 20 and 25 rounds rang out. The shots triggered a stampede. Law enforcement swiftly started finding those who had been shot.
Four People Shot
Altogether, four people were discovered with shooting injuries. The victims — consisting of one woman and three men all believed to be in their early to late twenties — were taken to Sacramento area hospitals. Hospital staff stated that two had critical injury classifications, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one had injuries classified as minor. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento assisted at the location and helped care for those who had been shot before they were taken to the hospital.
The Investigation
The bulk of the shooting seemed to have taken place near the Cottage Way corridor close to the Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Crime scene investigators recovered further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Bullet damage were observed in the wrought iron fence near the Home Depot. The physical evidence pointed to that at least one of the shooters had been aiming south from along Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was temporarily locked down while the scene was active. Crime scene technicians and detectives continued working for hours.
Suspects Detained
Reports confirmed via scanner audio showed that a vehicle identified as a Kia had been stopped in Solano County California. Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento law enforcement were dispatched to Solano County to collect the individuals for further questioning. Video evidence revealed that two individuals had fired weapons.