Law enforcement in Sacramento are probing a violent incident that unfolded on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area at the time authorities were dispersing an unsanctioned gathering of a crowd of several hundred.
Background
Law enforcement first arrived at Howe Community Park shortly before 6:30 Saturday evening after getting calls of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Not long after, a second caller reported concerning a possible fight happening inside the park.
Aerial units was sent to survey the area but was unable to locate the reported altercation. However, deputies found that several hundred individuals had assembled at the park without permission.
The Shooting Itself
Officers moved to clear the area by forming a perimeter and making announcements commanding the hundreds present to clear out. Approximately 15 minutes were allotted for individuals to vacate.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that 20 to 25 gunshots were fired. The shots triggered a stampede. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies quickly moved to locating gunshot victims.
The Shooting Victims
Altogether, four individuals were confirmed as gunshot victims. All four — consisting of one woman and three men each reported to be in their 20s — were brought to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Doctors and nurses indicated that two had critical injury classifications, one sustained moderate wounds, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. According to authorities, each of the read more four victims was stable.
Sacramento fire crews were called to the scene and helped triage the injured at the park.
What Investigators Found
The primary shooting scene seemed to have taken place adjacent to Cottage Way alongside the Home Depot store situated at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. CSI personnel recovered further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were also found in the iron perimeter fence alongside the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence indicated that a second shooter had been sending rounds south from Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot store. That Home Depot location was secured under a brief lockdown as a precaution. Crime scene technicians and detectives continued working well into the night.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Reports confirmed over scanner radio traffic indicated that a suspect Kia was contacted by law enforcement in an area within Solano County. Four detainees were detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Solano County to transport the detainees for processing in Sacramento County. Footage analyzed by investigators showed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.