Law enforcement in Sacramento are investigating a shooting that occurred late Saturday at Howe Park while law enforcement were breaking up an unlawful assembly of a crowd of several hundred.
Before the Gunfire
Deputies initially responded to the Arden-Arcade park read more at about half past six in the evening after obtaining information of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Soon after, a second caller reported concerning an alleged brawl occurring inside the park.
Aerial units conducted an aerial sweep but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Regardless, it became clear that several hundred individuals had congregated at Howe Park without authorization.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Deputies began the process of clearing the park by surrounding the park and announcing over their public address systems ordering the crowd to go home. Roughly 15 minutes were allotted for the gathering to break up.
As the crowd was being cleared that an estimated 20 to 25 shots rang out. The barrage of gunfire triggered a stampede. Officers immediately began locating gunshot victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Altogether, four individuals were located with gunshot injuries. Those injured — consisting of one woman and three men all reportedly in their 20s at the time of the incident — were rushed to nearby hospitals. Emergency physicians confirmed that two victims were in serious condition, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one had injuries classified as minor. As of last report, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department arrived on scene and assisted with medical triage the four victims before they were taken to the hospital.
Crime Scene Evidence
Most of the gunfire was determined to have taken place adjacent to the Cottage Way side of the park adjacent to the Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Investigators located extra shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were observed in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the Home Depot. These discoveries suggested that at least one of the shooters had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot. The Home Depot was put under lockdown for a period of time. CSI units alongside detectives kept processing evidence for hours.
Arrests Made
Information obtained over scanner radio traffic indicated that a Kia had been detained in Solano County California. Four individuals were stopped and detained. Deputies were sent to retrieve the detainees to collect the individuals for investigation. Surveillance footage established that two separate shooters participated in the incident.