Law enforcement in Sacramento are investigating a gunfire incident that erupted Saturday evening at Howe Park as deputies were breaking up an unlawful assembly of an estimated several hundred individuals.
How It Started
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially got calls about the park shortly before 6:30 PM after obtaining information of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. After that, additional information came in about a potential altercation unfolding inside the park.
A law enforcement helicopter scanned the area from the air but reported no active disturbance. However, it was evident that several hundred individuals had packed into the park without official sanction.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel moved to clear the area by forming a perimeter and making announcements commanding attendees to disperse at once. Roughly 15 minutes were given for people to comply.
It was during this dispersal that an estimated 20 to 25 shots cut through the air. The barrage of gunfire triggered a stampede. Law enforcement quickly moved to finding those who had been shot.
Four Gunshot Victims
Altogether, four gunshot victims were found to have been shot. All four — comprising three men and one woman ranging in age through their in their early to late twenties — were airlifted or driven to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical personnel indicated that two victims sustained immediate website injuries, one sustained moderate wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, all four were expected to survive.
Sacramento Metro Fire provided support and helped care for shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
Physical Evidence
The primary shooting scene appears to have been concentrated near the Cottage Way side of the park near the Home Depot store situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Detectives recovered additional spent rounds along Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were observed in the wrought iron fence bordering the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries confirmed that a shooter had been firing southward from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The store itself was secured under a brief lockdown while law enforcement worked the area. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives remained on scene late into the evening.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received through law enforcement radio communications showed that a suspect Kia was intercepted in an area within Solano County. Four people were held for questioning. Sheriff's units were traveling to Solano County to collect the individuals for questioning. Video that was reviewed made clear that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.