Officials in Sacramento County are examining a gun violence incident that unfolded Saturday night April 18 at Howe Community Park at the time officers were dissolving a large unauthorized gathering of multiple hundreds of people.
What Led to the Shooting
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were first called to the park on Howe Avenue at approximately 6:30 in the evening after getting calls of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. After that, a second call came in about a reported physical confrontation happening at the location.
A law enforcement helicopter was sent to survey the area but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Regardless, it became clear that several hundred individuals had gathered without authorization without authorization.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Law enforcement personnel worked to disperse the crowd by surrounding the park and using their vehicle PA systems instructing the crowd to disperse at once. Nearly 15 minutes were provided for the gathering to break up.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. The rapid succession of shots caused mass panic. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies swiftly started locating gunshot victims.
The Shooting Victims
Ultimately, four individuals were found to have been shot. The shooting victims — comprising three men and one woman all believed to be in their mid to late twenties — were brought to area medical facilities. Doctors and nurses indicated that two victims were in serious condition, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, read more and one victim's wounds were minor. According to authorities, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento fire crews also responded and provided medical assistance the four victims before they were taken to the hospital.
The Investigation
The main crime scene was determined to have happened along Cottage Way alongside the Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Investigators found extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were discovered in the metal fencing adjacent to the Home Depot. These findings pointed to that at least one of the shooters had been shooting in a southerly direction from the Cottage Way area in the direction of the Home Depot store. That Home Depot location was locked down while the scene was active. Crime scene personnel remained on scene throughout the night.
Arrests Made
Reports confirmed via scanner audio established that a Kia connected to the shooting was intercepted in Solano County California. Four people were detained. Sheriff's units were en route to collect those detained to pick up those detained for processing in Sacramento County. Video reviewed at the scene confirmed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.