Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are looking into a shooting incident that occurred late Saturday at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area as officers were shutting down an unauthorized event of a crowd of several hundred.
How It Started
Law enforcement initially responded to the park on Howe Avenue at approximately 6:30 Saturday evening after getting calls of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Shortly after, a follow-up call was made describing a potential altercation breaking out within the park grounds.
A sheriff's airship searched from above but reported no active disturbance. However, it became clear that an enormous crowd had congregated at Howe Park without official sanction.
When the Shots Rang Out
Law enforcement personnel began the process of clearing the park by positioning themselves around the crowd and announcing over their public address systems commanding attendees to leave immediately. Around 15 minutes were allowed for the gathering to break up.
As the crowd was being cleared that 20 to 25 gunshots echoed through the night. The rapid succession of shots sent the crowd running in all directions. Officers wasted no time in finding those who had been shot.
Those Who Were Hit
By the time the scene was secured, four people were confirmed as gunshot victims. The four individuals — a group of one female and three male victims each reported to be in their twenties — were transported to Sacramento area hospitals. Doctors and nurses reported that two had critical injury classifications, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one victim's wounds were minor. As of last report, all four were expected to survive.
Metro Fire Sacramento also responded and aided in treating those with gunshot wounds prior to hospital transport.
Evidence at the Scene
The primary shooting scene appears to have been concentrated near Cottage Way near the Home Depot store situated at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Detectives found additional shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Projectile impacts were noted in the wrought iron perimeter fencing alongside the Home Depot. This evidence confirmed that a second shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from along Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot building and parking lot. That Home Depot location was put under lockdown while the scene was active. Crime scene Cottage Way shooting Sacramento technicians and detectives continued working late into the evening.
Detainees in Solano County
Information obtained through scanner monitoring revealed that a Kia vehicle had been detained in nearby Solano County. Four suspects were stopped and detained. Law enforcement units were dispatched to Solano County to pick up those detained for processing in Sacramento County. Video evidence established that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.