Sacramento authorities are investigating a gunfire incident that unfolded Saturday evening at the Howe Community Park area as deputies were dissolving an unlawful assembly of several hundred people.
Before the Gunfire
Law enforcement initially got calls about the park on Howe Avenue at approximately 6:30 PM after getting calls of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Soon after, a second caller reported concerning a possible fight occurring at the location.
Aerial units was sent to survey the area but reported no active disturbance. Even so, deputies found that hundreds of people had assembled at the park without any permit or approval.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Deputies moved to clear the area by forming a perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems commanding the assembled crowd to disperse at once. Approximately 15 minutes were provided for people to comply.
As the crowd was being cleared that between 20 and 25 rounds cut through the air. The barrage of gunfire triggered a stampede. Law enforcement immediately began searching for victims.
The get more info Shooting Victims
By the time the scene was secured, four people were discovered with shooting injuries. The shooting victims — a group of one female and three male victims all reportedly in their 20s at the time of the incident — were airlifted or driven to area medical facilities. Emergency physicians indicated that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one suffered minor injuries. Fortunately, all four victims survived and were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento provided support and helped triage shooting victims at the scene.
Crime Scene Evidence
The center of the incident was believed to have occurred near Cottage Way alongside the Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Detectives located additional shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Round impacts were also found in the iron fence near the Home Depot store. This evidence showed that one of the gunmen had been aiming south from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was temporarily locked down as a precaution. CSI units alongside detectives worked tirelessly well into the night.
Suspect Information
Reports confirmed via scanner audio established that a vehicle identified as a Kia had been detained in Solano County. Four detainees were held for questioning. Deputies were dispatched to Solano County to pick up those detained for formal questioning. Surveillance footage established that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.