Sacramento County deputies are examining a shooting that broke out on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area at the moment law enforcement were dispersing an unlawful assembly of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Background
Sacramento County law enforcement initially got calls about the park on Howe Avenue at approximately 6:30 in the evening after click here getting calls of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Soon after, additional information came in mentioning a possible fight unfolding near the park.
A law enforcement helicopter searched from above but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Even so, deputies found that hundreds of people had assembled at the park without any permit or approval.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Law enforcement personnel set about removing people from the park by encircling the gathering and using their vehicle PA systems telling those gathered to vacate the area. About 15 minutes were provided for the gathering to break up.
Just as the crowd began to move that an estimated 20 to 25 shots rang out. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede. Responding personnel immediately began identifying shooting victims.
Those Who Were Hit
Ultimately, four gunshot victims were discovered with shooting injuries. The four individuals — consisting of one woman and three men all believed to be in their mid to late twenties — were brought to area medical facilities. Medical personnel indicated that two victims were in serious condition, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one had injuries classified as minor. Thankfully, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire arrived on scene and aided in treating the injured before they were taken to the hospital.
The Investigation
The main crime scene appears to have happened along the Cottage Way corridor next to the local Home Depot at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Detectives found additional shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Bullet damage were observed in the iron perimeter fence near the Home Depot. This evidence indicated that a shooter had been sending rounds south from Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot store. The nearby Home Depot was placed on lockdown as a precaution. Crime scene technicians and detectives kept processing evidence for hours.
Suspects Detained
Intelligence received via scanner audio revealed that a Kia connected to the shooting had been stopped in Solano County California. Four individuals were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sheriff's units were traveling to Solano County to pick up those detained for investigation. Video that was reviewed made clear that two shooters had been involved.