Sacramento authorities are probing a shooting incident that took place Saturday evening at Howe Community Park just as authorities were shutting down a large unauthorized gathering of several hundred people.
Background
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially got calls about the park at about 6:30 PM after being notified of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Soon after, additional information came in describing a possible physical fight breaking out at Howe Park.
An overhead unit flew over the park but reported no active disturbance. Despite this, it was apparent that several hundred individuals had gathered without authorization in an unauthorized manner.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Deputies moved to clear the area by encircling the gathering and using their vehicle PA systems instructing the crowd to leave immediately. Roughly 15 minutes were spent for individuals to vacate.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that an estimated 20 to 25 shots echoed through the night. The barrage of gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies immediately began searching for victims.
Four Gunshot Victims
When the dust settled, four individuals were confirmed as gunshot victims. Those injured — consisting of one woman and three men each reported to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were taken to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical teams indicated that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one suffered minor injuries. In a positive development, all four were expected to survive.
Sacramento Metro Fire also responded and aided in treating the injured before they were taken to the hospital.
Physical Evidence
The bulk of the shooting was confirmed to have happened along Cottage Way close to the Home Depot store situated at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Investigators found additional shell casings on Cottage Way. Round impacts were noted in the wrought iron fence alongside the Home Depot store. These discoveries indicated that a Howe Park Sacramento gunfire shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot building and parking lot. The store itself was put under lockdown during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives worked tirelessly late into the evening.
Suspects Detained
Information obtained over scanner radio traffic revealed that a suspect Kia had been detained in an area within Solano County. Four occupants were detained. Sheriff's units were sent to retrieve the detainees to transport the detainees for further questioning. Footage analyzed by investigators established that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.