Officials in Sacramento County are looking into a violent incident that unfolded on the evening of April 18 at Howe Park in Sacramento just as authorities were dispersing an unauthorized event of an estimated several hundred individuals.
How It Started
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first called to the park at about 6:30 PM after being notified of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Following that, a second caller reported describing a reported physical confrontation breaking out at the location.
A law enforcement helicopter was sent to survey the area but reported no active disturbance. Despite this, it became clear that an enormous crowd had assembled at the park without any permit or approval.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Deputies began the process of clearing the park by encircling the gathering and making announcements telling the assembled crowd to disperse at once. Roughly 15 minutes were allowed for people to comply.
It was during this dispersal that upwards of 20 gunshots cut through the air. The rapid succession of shots triggered a stampede. Responding personnel quickly moved to looking for those injured.
The Shooting Victims
In total, four people were confirmed as gunshot victims. The shooting victims — a group of one female and three male victims ranging in age through their in their mid to late twenties — were rushed to nearby hospitals. Emergency physicians indicated that two victims sustained immediate get more info injuries, one sustained moderate wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. According to authorities, each of the four victims was stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento assisted at the location and provided medical assistance shooting victims on location.
The Investigation
Most of the gunfire was confirmed to have taken place adjacent to the Cottage Way corridor alongside the local Home Depot at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Investigators located more spent casings along Cottage Way. Round impacts were noted in the iron perimeter fence surrounding the Home Depot store. These findings suggested that at least one of the shooters had been sending rounds south from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown as a precaution. Crime scene personnel continued working throughout the night.
Suspects Detained
Information obtained through scanner monitoring revealed that a Kia connected to the shooting had been detained in Solano County California. Four occupants were detained. Deputies were sent to retrieve the detainees to bring the suspects back for investigation. Video reviewed at the scene showed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.