Law enforcement in Sacramento are working a shooting that erupted Saturday evening at Howe Park in Sacramento as deputies were clearing a large unsanctioned party of a crowd of several hundred.
How It Started
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were first called to Howe Community Park around 6:30 in the evening after obtaining information of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Not long after, additional information came in mentioning a reported physical confrontation breaking out at Howe Park.
A law enforcement helicopter searched from above but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Regardless, it became clear that a massive group had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel worked to disperse the crowd by encircling the gathering and announcing over their public address systems ordering attendees to go home. Roughly 15 minutes were spent for people to comply.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that between 20 and 25 rounds were fired. The rapid succession of shots triggered a stampede. Deputies quickly moved to locating gunshot victims.
Four People Shot
Ultimately, four individuals were confirmed as website gunshot victims. The four individuals — consisting of one woman and three men each apparently in their 20s at the time of the incident — were brought to Sacramento area hospitals. Hospital staff reported that two victims were in serious condition, one sustained moderate wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. Thankfully, each of the four victims was stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento arrived on scene and aided in treating those who had been shot at the scene.
Evidence at the Scene
The center of the incident appears to have happened near the Cottage Way corridor next to the local Home Depot located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Law enforcement investigators discovered additional spent rounds along Cottage Way. Bullet holes were observed in the iron perimeter fence surrounding the nearby Home Depot. This evidence confirmed that one of the gunmen had been sending rounds south from Cottage Way toward the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was secured under a brief lockdown while law enforcement worked the area. Crime scene personnel worked tirelessly late into the evening.
Suspect Information
Reports confirmed via scanner audio established that a vehicle identified as a Kia was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County. Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were heading to pick up the four detainees to return them to Sacramento for further questioning. Video that was reviewed confirmed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.