Officials in Sacramento County are examining a shooting incident that unfolded late Saturday at Howe Community Park just as officers were breaking up an unlawful assembly of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Before the Gunfire
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies first arrived at Howe Community Park around 6:30 Saturday evening after getting calls of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Shortly after, a follow-up call was made regarding a possible fight breaking out at the location.
A law enforcement helicopter scanned the area from the air but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Regardless, it was apparent that a crowd of several hundred had come together at the location in an unauthorized manner.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies moved to clear the area by setting up around the park's perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems telling the hundreds present to clear out. Roughly 15 minutes were given for the gathering to break up.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were discharged. The barrage of gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Law enforcement swiftly started searching for victims.
Four Gunshot Victims
Altogether, four people were discovered with shooting injuries. The shooting victims — consisting of one woman and three men all reportedly in their 20s at the time of the incident — were airlifted or driven to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Emergency physicians reported that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one had moderate injuries, and one had injuries classified as minor. Fortunately, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District were called to the scene and provided medical assistance those who had been shot at the scene.
Crime Scene Evidence
The center of the incident was determined to have been concentrated near the Cottage Way side of the park adjacent to the local Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Crime check here scene investigators located additional shell casings on Cottage Way. Bullet holes were identified in the iron fence near the Home Depot. These discoveries pointed to that one of the gunmen had been sending rounds south from Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was placed on lockdown as a precaution. CSI investigators and detectives stayed at the location late into the evening.
Suspects Detained
Intelligence received over scanner radio traffic indicated that a suspect Kia was intercepted in Solano County. Four suspects were held for questioning. Sheriff's units were dispatched to Solano County to collect the individuals for formal questioning. Video reviewed at the scene showed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.