Officials in Sacramento County are examining a violent incident that took place late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area as authorities were dispersing a large unsanctioned party of hundreds of attendees.
Prior to the Shooting
Deputies initially responded to Howe Park at approximately 6:30 in the evening after getting calls of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Not long after, a second caller reported about an alleged brawl breaking out within the park grounds.
A law enforcement helicopter conducted an aerial sweep but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Regardless, it was apparent that a crowd of several hundred had packed into the park without official sanction.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by setting up around the park's perimeter and making announcements telling the assembled crowd to disperse at once. Around 15 minutes were allotted for the gathering to break up.
While deputies worked to disperse the more info gathering that between 20 and 25 rounds were discharged. The rapid succession of shots sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Deputies immediately began looking for those injured.
Those Who Were Hit
When the dust settled, four shooting victims were discovered with shooting injuries. The shooting victims — consisting of one woman and three men all reportedly in their early to late twenties — were brought to Sacramento area hospitals. Hospital staff noted that two had critical injury classifications, one had moderate injuries, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. As of last report, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department provided support and aided in treating the injured before they were taken to the hospital.
Physical Evidence
The center of the incident was believed to have taken place along Cottage Way adjacent to the local Home Depot on the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Crime scene investigators identified more spent casings on Cottage Way. Bullet holes were also found in the iron perimeter fence adjacent to the Home Depot store. The physical evidence suggested that at least one shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown as a precaution. Crime scene personnel kept processing evidence through the early morning hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Intelligence received via scanner audio showed that a Kia vehicle had been stopped in the Solano County area. Four individuals were held for questioning. Law enforcement units were en route to collect those detained to return them to Sacramento for formal questioning. Video that was reviewed established that two individuals had fired weapons.