Law enforcement in Sacramento are investigating a shooting that took place on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area Sacramento County Sheriff shooting investigation just as officers were shutting down an unsanctioned gathering of multiple hundreds of people.
What Led to the Shooting
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies initially got calls about the park at about 6:30 PM on April 18 after getting calls of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. After that, a second call came in mentioning a possible fight taking place within the park grounds.
An overhead unit was sent to survey the area but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Even so, authorities discovered that hundreds of people had packed into the park without any permit or approval.
When the Shots Rang Out
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by forming a perimeter and announcing over their public address systems commanding the hundreds present to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were provided for attendees to disperse.
As the crowd was being cleared that upwards of 20 gunshots were discharged. The barrage of gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Responding personnel swiftly started searching for victims.
Four People Shot
Ultimately, four victims were discovered with shooting injuries. The shooting victims — a group of one female and three male victims all believed to be in their 20s — were brought to area medical facilities. Doctors and nurses stated that two had critical injury classifications, one sustained moderate wounds, and one had injuries classified as minor. Fortunately, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento fire crews were called to the scene and helped care for those who had been shot at the park.
Physical Evidence
The center of the incident was confirmed to have been concentrated adjacent to the Cottage Way corridor adjacent to the local Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Investigators found further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were discovered in the iron fence surrounding the Home Depot. These findings suggested that at least one of the shooters had been discharging rounds toward the south from Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was temporarily locked down while law enforcement worked the area. CSI units alongside detectives continued working well into the night.
Suspects Detained
Details gathered over scanner radio traffic confirmed that a Kia was pulled over in Solano County. Four occupants were taken into custody. Sheriff's units were sent to retrieve the detainees to pick up those detained for investigation. Video that was reviewed established that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.