Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are working a gun violence incident that unfolded on the evening of April 18 at the Howe Community Park area as deputies were breaking up an unsanctioned gathering of a crowd of several hundred.
Before the Gunfire
Deputies initially responded to the Arden-Arcade park at approximately 6:30 PM on April 18 after receiving reports Sacramento County Sheriff shooting investigation of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. After that, a second call came in concerning a potential altercation occurring inside the park.
An overhead unit searched from above but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Even so, it became clear that a crowd of several hundred had packed into the park in an unauthorized manner.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Deputies started clearing the unauthorized gathering by encircling the gathering and making announcements instructing the hundreds present to leave immediately. Around 15 minutes were spent for individuals to vacate.
Just as the crowd began to move that 20 to 25 gunshots were fired. The shots sent the crowd running in all directions. Responding personnel quickly moved to identifying shooting victims.
Four People Shot
Altogether, four shooting victims were found to have been shot. Those injured — a group of one female and three male victims each reported to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were taken to Sacramento area hospitals. Hospital staff reported that two had critical injury classifications, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one had injuries classified as minor. As of last report, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire provided support and helped care for those with gunshot wounds at the scene.
What Investigators Found
The main crime scene appears to have been concentrated adjacent to the Cottage Way corridor adjacent to the local Home Depot on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators located further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet damage were observed in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the Home Depot store. These discoveries confirmed that at least one shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from along Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot store. The store itself was placed on lockdown as a precaution. Crime scene technicians and detectives kept processing evidence for hours.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Details gathered through scanner monitoring established that a Kia had been stopped in an area within Solano County. Four people were detained. Law enforcement units were heading to pick up the four detainees to collect the individuals for further questioning. Video reviewed at the scene confirmed that there were two gunmen.