Sacramento County deputies are investigating a violent incident that erupted Saturday evening at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area while law enforcement were clearing a large unauthorized gathering of hundreds of attendees.
How It Started
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies first arrived at the park on Howe Avenue just after 6:30 PM on April 18 after obtaining information of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Following that, a second caller reported about a reported physical confrontation breaking out inside the park.
A sheriff's airship was sent to survey the area but was unable to locate the reported altercation. However, it was apparent that hundreds of people had packed into the park without authorization.
When the Shots Rang Out
Law enforcement personnel worked to disperse the crowd by positioning themselves around the crowd and using their vehicle PA systems ordering the assembled crowd to leave immediately. Roughly 15 minutes were spent for the crowd to leave.
At the height of the dispersal effort that between 20 and 25 rounds were fired. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede. Responding personnel quickly moved to locating gunshot victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Altogether, four individuals were located with gunshot injuries. All four — made up of one woman and three men each reported to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were rushed to nearby hospitals. Emergency physicians indicated that two had critical injury classifications, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one suffered minor injuries. As of last report, each of the four victims was stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire provided support and provided medical assistance the four victims on location.
Crime Scene Evidence
The bulk of the shooting appears to have taken place along the Cottage Way side of the park near the Home Depot on the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators located additional spent rounds throughout the Cottage Way area. Round impacts were observed in the iron fence near the Home Depot. These discoveries suggested that at least one shooter had been firing southward from the Cottage Way area toward the Home Depot. The Home Depot was temporarily locked down during the incident. Crime scene technicians and detectives remained on scene for hours.
Suspect Information
Details gathered through law enforcement radio communications showed that a Kia connected to the shooting had been stopped in the Solano County area. Four detainees were taken into custody. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were sent to retrieve get more info the detainees to transport the detainees for formal questioning. Video evidence showed that there were two gunmen.