Sacramento County deputies are probing a violent incident that erupted late Saturday at Howe Park in Sacramento as law enforcement were dispersing an unauthorized event of hundreds of attendees.
Before the Gunfire
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were first dispatched to the park at about 6:30 in the evening after obtaining information of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Not long after, a follow-up call was made concerning a reported physical confrontation occurring inside the park.
A sheriff's airship conducted an aerial sweep but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Regardless, authorities discovered that hundreds of people had gathered without authorization without authorization.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Officers set about removing people from the park by surrounding the park and announcing over their public address systems telling the assembled crowd to disperse at once. Roughly 15 minutes were spent for people to comply.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that 20 to 25 gunshots echoed through the night. The rapid succession of shots sent hundreds fleeing. Responding personnel swiftly started looking for those injured.
Four People Shot
When the dust settled, four shooting victims were located with gunshot injuries. The four individuals — including a female and three Howe Park shooting Sacramento males ranging in age through their in their 20s — were rushed to nearby hospitals. Medical personnel confirmed that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one had moderate injuries, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. In a positive development, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire also responded and helped triage the four victims on location.
The Investigation
The center of the incident seemed to have happened on Cottage Way close to the local Home Depot situated at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. CSI personnel identified extra shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet holes were noted in the metal fencing alongside the nearby Home Depot. This ballistic evidence confirmed that a second shooter had been aiming south from the Cottage Way area toward the Home Depot building and parking lot. That Home Depot location was placed on lockdown for a period of time. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives kept processing evidence late into the evening.
Detainees in Solano County
Reports confirmed via scanner audio showed that a Kia was intercepted in an area within Solano County. Four suspects were detained. Sacramento law enforcement were dispatched to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for further questioning. Video evidence showed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.