Law enforcement in Sacramento are working a shooting that erupted Saturday evening at Howe Park as officers were clearing an unsanctioned gathering of several hundred people.
Background
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies initially got calls about Howe Community Park shortly before 6:30 in the evening after getting calls of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Soon after, another report was received about a reported physical confrontation happening at the location.
A law enforcement helicopter searched from above but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Even so, it was apparent that hundreds of people had packed into the park without official sanction.
When the Shots Rang Out
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies worked to disperse the crowd by surrounding the park and announcing over their public address systems ordering the assembled crowd to go home. Approximately 15 minutes were spent for individuals to vacate.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were fired. The rapid succession of shots sent hundreds fleeing. Deputies swiftly started locating gunshot victims.
Those Who Were Hit
Ultimately, four victims were found to have been shot. The shooting victims — comprising three men and one woman each reported to be in their early to late twenties — were brought to local Sacramento hospitals. Doctors and nurses noted that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one had moderate injuries, and one person's injuries were considered minor. In a positive development, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento fire crews arrived on scene and helped care for the injured prior to hospital transport.
The Investigation
The primary shooting scene was determined to have happened near the Cottage Way corridor adjacent to the local Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Law enforcement investigators located further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings along Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were observed in the wrought iron fence bordering the nearby Home Depot. This ballistic evidence pointed to that a second shooter had Howe Park shooting Sacramento been aiming south from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was temporarily locked down while law enforcement worked the area. Crime scene technicians and detectives stayed at the location late into the evening.
Detainees in Solano County
Intelligence received through law enforcement radio communications revealed that a Kia was pulled over in Solano County California. Four individuals were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Solano County to pick up those detained for investigation. Surveillance footage made clear that there were two gunmen.