Sacramento County deputies are working a gun violence incident that unfolded Saturday evening at the Howe Community Park area at the time authorities were dissolving an unsanctioned gathering of a crowd of several hundred.
Before the Gunfire
Sacramento County law enforcement initially got calls about Howe Community Park around half past six in the evening after obtaining information of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Not long after, additional information came in mentioning a possible physical fight taking place at the location.
Aerial units scanned the area from the air but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Even so, authorities discovered that several hundred individuals had come together at the location without official sanction.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel worked to disperse the crowd by encircling the gathering and using their vehicle PA systems ordering the assembled crowd to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were provided for the crowd to leave.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 gunshots were discharged. The sudden gunfire sent hundreds fleeing. Officers wasted no time in locating gunshot victims.
Those Who Were Hit
When the dust settled, four gunshot victims were confirmed as gunshot victims. The victims — consisting of one woman and three men all believed to be in their twenties — were rushed to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Hospital staff confirmed that two victims were in serious condition, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. According to authorities, all four were in stable condition.
Metro Fire Sacramento arrived on scene and aided in treating those who had been shot at the scene.
The Investigation
Most of the gunfire appears to have happened near the Cottage Way corridor near the local Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. CSI personnel located additional spent rounds on Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were noted in the click here iron fence bordering the Home Depot. These discoveries confirmed that a shooter had been sending rounds south from Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot building and parking lot. The store itself was locked down during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives continued working late into the evening.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Details gathered over police scanner frequencies revealed that a Kia had been stopped in Solano County California. Four individuals were held for questioning. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were heading to pick up the four detainees to collect the individuals for processing in Sacramento County. Video reviewed at the scene established that two individuals had fired weapons.