Sacramento County deputies are investigating a shooting that unfolded late Saturday at Howe Community Park at the time Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dissolving a large unsanctioned party of a crowd of several hundred.
What Led to the Shooting
Sacramento County law enforcement first arrived at Howe Community Park shortly before 6:30 PM after learning of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Shortly after, a follow-up call was made describing an alleged brawl unfolding within the park grounds.
A sheriff's airship was sent to survey the area but reported no active disturbance. Even so, authorities discovered that an enormous crowd had come together at the location without permission.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Responding units moved to clear the area by positioning themselves around the crowd and issuing commands over loudspeakers commanding the assembled crowd to vacate the area. Roughly 15 minutes were allotted for the crowd to leave.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition rang out. The rapid succession of shots caused mass panic. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies immediately began searching for victims.
Four People Shot
Ultimately, four individuals were found to have been shot. The victims — consisting of one woman and three men each reported to be in their mid to late twenties — were brought to Sacramento area hospitals. Emergency physicians confirmed that two had critical injury classifications, one sustained moderate wounds, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Thankfully, check here all four were in stable condition.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department assisted at the location and helped care for shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
Physical Evidence
The center of the incident appears to have taken place on the Cottage Way side of the park near the Home Depot store on the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Law enforcement investigators identified extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Round impacts were observed in the wrought iron perimeter fencing bordering the Home Depot. These discoveries suggested that a second shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was locked down for a period of time. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives stayed at the location late into the evening.
Arrests Made
Information relayed over police scanner frequencies established that a vehicle identified as a Kia was contacted by law enforcement in nearby Solano County. Four occupants were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Deputies were heading to pick up the four detainees to return them to Sacramento for processing in Sacramento County. Video reviewed at the scene revealed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.