Sacramento County deputies are investigating a gunfire incident that took place Saturday night April 18 at Howe Park while deputies were dispersing a large unsanctioned party of hundreds of attendees.
How It Started
Deputies were first dispatched to Howe Park at about 6:30 PM after getting calls of people potentially Home Depot Sacramento shooting armed with concealed firearms. Shortly after, a second call came in mentioning an alleged brawl occurring within the park grounds.
Air support was sent to survey the area but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Even so, it became clear that a massive group had packed into the park without any permit or approval.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Officers worked to disperse the crowd by surrounding the park and making announcements instructing the assembled crowd to vacate the area. Roughly 15 minutes were provided for individuals to vacate.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that 20 to 25 gunshots were fired. The shots sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Deputies at once began identifying shooting victims.
Those Who Were Hit
By the time the scene was secured, four people were identified as having gunshot wounds. The victims — a group of one female and three male victims all reportedly in their 20s — were taken to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Emergency physicians noted that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one had injuries classified as minor. In a positive development, all four were expected to survive.
Sacramento fire crews were called to the scene and assisted with medical triage shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
The Investigation
The center of the incident appears to have happened near the Cottage Way corridor next to the local Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators identified more spent casings along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were observed in the iron fence bordering the Home Depot store. These discoveries showed that a shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The store itself was temporarily locked down during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives stayed at the location throughout the night.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received through scanner monitoring confirmed that a suspect Kia was intercepted in Solano County. Four detainees were detained. Sacramento law enforcement were dispatched to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for investigation. Video reviewed at the scene confirmed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.