Law enforcement in Sacramento are probing a shooting that took place Saturday night April 18 at Howe Park in Sacramento as officers were breaking up an unsanctioned gathering of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Background
Sacramento County law enforcement were first dispatched to the park at about 6:30 PM after getting calls of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Shortly after, a follow-up call was made concerning a possible physical fight occurring at the location.
An overhead unit conducted an aerial sweep but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Even so, it was evident that a crowd of several hundred had congregated at Howe Park without any permit or approval.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Deputies set about removing people from the park by forming a perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems ordering the assembled crowd to go home. About 15 minutes were given for the gathering to break up.
At the height of the dispersal effort that upwards of 20 gunshots were fired. The sudden gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies swiftly started searching for victims.
The Shooting Victims
Altogether, four individuals were found to have been shot. The victims — including a female and three males all believed to be in their early to late twenties — were rushed to area medical facilities. Medical teams noted that two victims were in serious condition, one had moderate injuries, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Fortunately, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento fire crews were called to the scene and helped care for the four victims at the park.
Evidence at the Scene
The primary shooting scene was confirmed to have been concentrated near the Cottage Way corridor alongside the Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. CSI personnel found more spent casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet damage were identified in the wrought iron fence adjacent to the nearby Home Depot. The physical evidence suggested that at least one of the shooters had been shooting in a southerly direction from Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot building and parking lot. The nearby Home Depot was temporarily locked down for a period of time. CSI units alongside detectives click here remained on scene throughout the night.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Intelligence received over scanner radio traffic showed that a vehicle identified as a Kia had been detained in an area within Solano County. Four detainees were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Deputies were sent to retrieve the detainees to collect the individuals for further questioning. Video that was reviewed revealed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.