Officials in Sacramento County are looking into a gun violence incident that occurred Saturday night April 18 at Howe Park as authorities were breaking up an unlawful assembly of hundreds of attendees.
What Led to the Shooting
Deputies were first dispatched to the Arden-Arcade park around 6:30 PM after learning of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Soon after, additional information came in describing a potential altercation happening near the park.
A sheriff's airship scanned the area from the air but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Nevertheless, authorities discovered that several hundred individuals had gathered without authorization without any permit or approval.
The Shooting Itself
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies set read more about removing people from the park by setting up around the park's perimeter and making announcements instructing those gathered to vacate the area. Nearly 15 minutes were allotted for attendees to disperse.
It was during this dispersal that an estimated 20 to 25 shots were discharged. The barrage of gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Responding personnel wasted no time in identifying shooting victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Altogether, four people were confirmed as gunshot victims. The four individuals — made up of one woman and three men each apparently in their twenties — were airlifted or driven to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical personnel confirmed that two had critical injury classifications, one had moderate injuries, and one had injuries classified as minor. Thankfully, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department also responded and helped care for the injured before they were taken to the hospital.
Physical Evidence
Most of the gunfire was determined to have happened on the Cottage Way side of the park adjacent to the Home Depot store at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators discovered further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Round impacts were also found in the iron fence near the Home Depot. These discoveries indicated that one of the gunmen had been firing southward from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was put under lockdown while the scene was active. Crime scene technicians and detectives worked tirelessly well into the night.
Suspects Detained
Information relayed over police scanner frequencies revealed that a Kia was intercepted in Solano County. Four individuals were detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Solano County to transport the detainees for formal questioning. Surveillance footage showed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.