Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are probing a shooting incident that occurred late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area just as law enforcement were dissolving an unsanctioned gathering of a crowd of several hundred.
Background
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies initially got calls about Howe Community Park at about half past six in the evening after being notified of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. After that, a second call came in mentioning a potential altercation breaking out at Howe Park.
A sheriff's airship was sent to survey the area but found nothing to substantiate website the fight report. Even so, deputies found that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park without authorization.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Officers moved to clear the area by setting up around the park's perimeter and broadcasting over loudspeakers instructing attendees to clear out. Approximately 15 minutes were given for attendees to disperse.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were discharged. The shots triggered a stampede. Officers at once began searching for victims.
Four People Shot
Ultimately, four shooting victims were discovered with shooting injuries. All four — a group of one female and three male victims each apparently in their early to late twenties — were brought to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical personnel reported that two had critical injury classifications, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one person's injuries were considered minor. Thankfully, each of the four victims was stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department also responded and provided medical assistance those who had been shot on location.
Crime Scene Evidence
The bulk of the shooting was believed to have occurred adjacent to the Cottage Way side of the park near the Home Depot at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Detectives recovered additional spent rounds on the Cottage Way roadway. Ballistic damage were noted in the metal fencing alongside the Home Depot. These discoveries indicated that one of the gunmen had been discharging rounds toward the south from Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The store itself was secured under a brief lockdown as a precaution. CSI investigators and detectives stayed at the location well into the night.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Intelligence received through scanner monitoring confirmed that a vehicle identified as a Kia had been stopped in the Solano County area. Four individuals were taken into custody. Deputies were heading to pick up the four detainees to pick up those detained for formal questioning. Video reviewed at the scene revealed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.