Officials in Sacramento County are examining a gunfire incident that broke out Saturday evening at Howe Park as officers were shutting down an unlawful assembly of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Sacramento County law enforcement were first dispatched to the park just after 6:30 in the evening after being notified of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Not long after, additional information came in about an alleged brawl happening near the park.
A law enforcement helicopter conducted an aerial sweep but reported no active disturbance. Despite this, it became clear that a massive group had packed into the park without permission.
When the Shots Rang Out
Officers began the process of clearing the park by surrounding the park and making announcements ordering those gathered to disperse at once. Approximately 15 minutes were allotted for the crowd to leave.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were discharged. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede. Deputies at once began looking for those injured.
Four People Shot
By the time the scene was secured, four people were found to have been shot. All four — consisting of one woman and three men all reportedly in their 20s — were airlifted or driven to area medical facilities. Hospital staff noted that two victims were in serious condition, one sustained moderate wounds, and one suffered minor injuries. In a positive development, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District also responded and helped care for the four victims at the scene.
What Investigators Found
The bulk of the shooting was determined to have taken place along the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the Home Depot located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. CSI personnel located more spent casings on Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were discovered in the wrought iron perimeter fencing surrounding the Home Depot. These findings confirmed that at least one of the shooters had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way in the direction of read more the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was locked down during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives remained on scene through the early morning hours.
Arrests Made
Information relayed through scanner monitoring showed that a Kia connected to the shooting was pulled over in the Solano County area. Four people were detained. Sacramento law enforcement were dispatched to Solano County to collect the individuals for questioning. Surveillance footage revealed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.