Sacramento authorities are probing a gunfire incident that broke out on the evening of April 18 at Howe Park while officers were breaking up a large unauthorized gathering of several hundred people.
Prior to the Shooting
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first called to Howe Park at approximately 6:30 PM after obtaining information of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Not long after, additional information came in concerning a possible physical fight taking place at the location.
A law enforcement helicopter conducted an aerial sweep but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Regardless, it was apparent that a massive group had packed into the park without permission.
When the Shots Rang Out
Officers moved to clear the area by encircling the gathering and broadcasting over loudspeakers instructing those gathered to clear out. Nearly 15 minutes were given for the crowd to leave.
It was during this dispersal that between 20 and 25 rounds were fired. The rapid succession of shots triggered a stampede. Deputies at once began searching for victims.
The Shooting Victims
When the dust settled, four shooting victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. The victims — consisting of one woman and three men all believed to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were airlifted or driven to nearby hospitals. Hospital staff stated that two were treated for serious injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one had injuries classified as minor. As of last report, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Sacramento fire crews provided support and helped triage those with gunshot wounds prior to Cottage Way shooting Sacramento hospital transport.
Evidence at the Scene
The main crime scene appears to have happened near Cottage Way next to the local Home Depot on the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Law enforcement investigators identified extra shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were identified in the wrought iron fence adjacent to the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries suggested that one of the gunmen had been shooting in a southerly direction from Cottage Way toward the Home Depot building and parking lot. That Home Depot location was locked down as a precaution. CSI investigators and detectives kept processing evidence late into the evening.
Arrests Made
Details gathered through scanner monitoring indicated that a Kia connected to the shooting was contacted by law enforcement in an area within Solano County. Four people were stopped and detained. Sacramento law enforcement were dispatched to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for investigation. Footage analyzed by investigators made clear that two individuals had fired weapons.