Law enforcement in Sacramento are examining a shooting incident that unfolded late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area at the moment deputies were shutting down Home Depot Sacramento shooting an unsanctioned gathering of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Before the Gunfire
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially got calls about Howe Park just after half past six in the evening after learning of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Following that, a follow-up call was made about an alleged brawl unfolding within the park grounds.
A sheriff's airship conducted an aerial sweep but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Despite this, it was evident that hundreds of people had packed into the park without permission.
When the Shots Rang Out
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by setting up around the park's perimeter and broadcasting over loudspeakers telling those gathered to disperse at once. Approximately 15 minutes were given for the gathering to break up.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that between 20 and 25 rounds echoed through the night. The shots caused mass panic. Law enforcement swiftly started identifying shooting victims.
Four Gunshot Victims
When the dust settled, four victims were located with gunshot injuries. Those injured — a group of one female and three male victims each reported to be in their early to late twenties — were airlifted or driven to area medical facilities. Medical personnel stated that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. In a positive development, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire were called to the scene and helped triage the four victims at the park.
What Investigators Found
The center of the incident seemed to have happened along the Cottage Way side of the park near the local Home Depot on the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Investigators recovered further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings along Cottage Way. Round impacts were observed in the iron fence near the Home Depot store. This ballistic evidence suggested that a second shooter had been firing southward from Cottage Way toward the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was placed on lockdown while law enforcement worked the area. CSI investigators and detectives worked tirelessly well into the night.
Arrests Made
Information relayed through scanner monitoring revealed that a Kia vehicle was intercepted in nearby Solano County. Four people were stopped and detained. Sheriff's units were sent to retrieve the detainees to pick up those detained for formal questioning. Footage analyzed by investigators established that two shooters had been involved.