Sacramento County deputies are working a gunfire incident that took place late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area at the moment law enforcement were breaking up an unsanctioned gathering of hundreds of attendees.
Prior to the Shooting
Law enforcement first arrived at Howe Park at about half past six in the evening after getting calls of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. After that, a follow-up call was made describing a possible physical fight occurring within the park grounds.
Air support scanned the area from the air but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Regardless, deputies found that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park without permission.
When the Shots Rang Out
Law enforcement personnel worked to disperse the crowd by setting up around the park's perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems commanding attendees to leave immediately. Approximately 15 minutes were given for the gathering to break up.
As the crowd was being cleared that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. The shots caused mass panic. Deputies quickly moved to locating gunshot victims.
Four People Shot
In total, four victims were located with gunshot injuries. Those injured — comprising three men and one woman each reported to be in their 20s — were airlifted or driven to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical teams indicated that two victims were in serious condition, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one suffered minor injuries. As of last report, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District provided support and helped triage shooting victims on location.
What Investigators Found
The main crime scene appears to have happened along the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the local Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. CSI personnel discovered extra shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Projectile impacts were identified in the iron perimeter fence surrounding the Home Depot. The physical evidence pointed to that one of the gunmen had been firing southward from Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot building and parking lot. The Home Depot was secured under a here brief lockdown for a period of time. Crime scene personnel stayed at the location through the early morning hours.
Suspects Detained
Reports confirmed over police scanner frequencies confirmed that a suspect Kia had been stopped in nearby Solano County. Four occupants were detained. Sheriff's units were traveling to Solano County to collect the individuals for questioning. Video that was reviewed confirmed that two individuals had fired weapons.