Sacramento authorities are probing a shooting incident that erupted Saturday evening at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area as law enforcement were clearing an unlawful assembly of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first dispatched to the park at about 6:30 in the evening after being notified of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Not long after, another report was received mentioning a possible fight breaking out inside the park.
An overhead unit scanned the area from the air but reported no active disturbance. Regardless, it was evident that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park without authorization.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Law enforcement personnel moved to clear the area by positioning themselves around the crowd and announcing over their public address systems directing attendees to go home. About 15 minutes were allowed for the gathering to break up.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 gunshots were fired. The sudden gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies immediately began identifying shooting victims.
Those Who Were Hit
Altogether, four shooting victims were discovered with shooting injuries. All four — consisting of one woman and three men all reportedly in their early to late twenties — were transported to area medical facilities. Medical teams stated that two victims were in serious condition, one sustained moderate wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, all four were in stable condition.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District provided support and helped care for the injured prior to hospital transport.
Physical Evidence
The bulk of the shooting seemed to have unfolded along the Cottage Way side of the park adjacent to the Home Depot situated at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Investigators located additional shell casings on Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were noted in the wrought iron perimeter fencing adjacent to the website nearby Home Depot. These findings suggested that a second shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The nearby Home Depot was placed on lockdown while law enforcement worked the area. CSI units alongside detectives remained on scene well into the night.
Suspects Detained
Intelligence received via scanner audio indicated that a Kia vehicle had been stopped in an area within Solano County. Four individuals were taken into custody. Deputies were en route to collect those detained to transport the detainees for processing in Sacramento County. Footage analyzed by investigators made clear that two individuals had fired weapons.