Law enforcement in Sacramento are probing a shooting that took place late Saturday at the Howe Community Park area at the time authorities were dispersing a large unsanctioned party of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially got calls about the Arden-Arcade park around 6:30 in the evening after receiving reports of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. After that, another report was received mentioning a possible fight taking place inside the park.
An overhead unit was sent to survey the area but reported no active disturbance. Regardless, it was apparent that a crowd of several hundred had come together at the location without any permit or approval.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel started clearing the unauthorized gathering by forming a perimeter and making announcements instructing the crowd to disperse at once. Approximately 15 minutes were provided for attendees to disperse.
Just as the crowd began to move that between 20 and 25 rounds echoed through the night. The barrage of gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Officers at once began identifying shooting victims.
The Shooting Victims
When the dust settled, four gunshot victims were found to have been shot. The four individuals — consisting of one woman and three men all believed to be in their twenties — were brought to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Medical personnel noted that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one suffered minor injuries. As of last more info report, each of the four victims was stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District arrived on scene and helped triage those with gunshot wounds prior to hospital transport.
Evidence at the Scene
The bulk of the shooting was confirmed to have unfolded along the Cottage Way corridor close to the local Home Depot located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. CSI personnel found further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet holes were also found in the iron fence surrounding the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries indicated that a shooter had been firing southward from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was placed on lockdown while the scene was active. CSI investigators and detectives kept processing evidence late into the evening.
Detainees in Solano County
Intelligence received via scanner audio showed that a Kia vehicle was intercepted in the Solano County area. Four individuals were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Deputies were sent to retrieve the detainees to bring the suspects back for processing in Sacramento County. Video reviewed at the scene made clear that two individuals had fired weapons.