Law enforcement in Sacramento are examining a gunfire incident that occurred late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area at the moment officers were dissolving an unauthorized event of multiple hundreds of people.
How It Started
Deputies first arrived at the park on Howe Avenue around 6:30 Saturday evening after obtaining information of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Shortly after, a second caller reported mentioning a possible fight occurring inside the park.
A law enforcement helicopter conducted an aerial sweep but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Even so, it was apparent that a massive group had assembled at the park without permission.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by positioning themselves around the crowd and using their vehicle PA systems telling the crowd to disperse at once. Roughly 15 minutes were allowed for people to comply.
At the height of the dispersal effort that between 20 and 25 rounds cut through the air. Gunfire triggered a stampede. Responding personnel wasted no time in looking for those injured.
Four People Shot
Ultimately, four shooting victims were found to have been shot. All four — a group of one female and three male victims all believed to be in their mid to late twenties — were brought to area medical facilities. Emergency physicians stated that two had critical injury classifications, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one sustained website minor gunshot wounds. As of last report, all four were expected to survive.
Metro Fire Sacramento were called to the scene and provided medical assistance shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
Evidence at the Scene
The bulk of the shooting was believed to have taken place adjacent to the Cottage Way side of the park next to the Home Depot located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Detectives located more spent casings along Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were also found in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the Home Depot store. This evidence suggested that at least one of the shooters had been firing southward from the Cottage Way area aimed at the Home Depot building and parking lot. The store itself was secured under a brief lockdown while the scene was active. CSI investigators and detectives remained on scene well into the night.
Arrests Made
Information obtained over police scanner frequencies established that a suspect Kia was intercepted in nearby Solano County. Four detainees were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were traveling to Solano County to collect the individuals for investigation. Video evidence established that two individuals had fired weapons.