Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are examining a shooting that occurred Saturday evening at Howe Park in Sacramento as officers were clearing an unauthorized event of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially got calls about Howe Community Park at approximately 6:30 PM after learning of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Following that, additional information came in mentioning a reported physical confrontation breaking out near the park.
Air support was sent to survey the area but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. However, it became clear that a crowd of several hundred had come together at the location without authorization.
The Dispersal and Home Depot Sacramento shooting Shooting
Deputies started clearing the unauthorized gathering by surrounding the park and using their vehicle PA systems telling the assembled crowd to vacate the area. About 15 minutes were spent for the crowd to leave.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were discharged. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede. Responding personnel wasted no time in locating gunshot victims.
The Shooting Victims
By the time the scene was secured, four gunshot victims were located with gunshot injuries. The four individuals — comprising three men and one woman all reportedly in their 20s at the time of the incident — were rushed to area medical facilities. Emergency physicians confirmed that two were treated for serious injuries, one had moderate injuries, and one person's injuries were considered minor. As of last report, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire were called to the scene and provided medical assistance the four victims prior to hospital transport.
What Investigators Found
The primary shooting scene was determined to have occurred near the Cottage Way corridor near the local Home Depot on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Investigators located further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were noted in the metal fencing surrounding the Home Depot store. This evidence pointed to that at least one of the shooters had been sending rounds south from the Cottage Way area in the direction of the Home Depot. The Home Depot was temporarily locked down while the scene was active. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives stayed at the location for hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Information obtained through scanner monitoring indicated that a vehicle identified as a Kia had been stopped in an area within Solano County. Four occupants were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were traveling to Solano County to transport the detainees for further questioning. Video reviewed at the scene established that two separate shooters participated in the incident.