Sacramento authorities are probing a shooting incident that occurred Saturday evening at the Howe Community Park area at the time deputies were dispersing an unlawful assembly of several hundred people.
Background
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies initially get more info got calls about Howe Community Park just after 6:30 Saturday evening after obtaining information of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. After that, a second call came in mentioning a possible fight happening near the park.
Aerial units scanned the area from the air but reported no active disturbance. However, it became clear that hundreds of people had come together at the location in an unauthorized manner.
When the Shots Rang Out
Law enforcement personnel moved to clear the area by surrounding the park and broadcasting over loudspeakers ordering those gathered to go home. About 15 minutes were allotted for the gathering to break up.
As the crowd was being cleared that an estimated 20 to 25 shots cut through the air. The sudden gunfire sent hundreds fleeing. Responding personnel at once began searching for victims.
Four People Shot
In total, four gunshot victims were discovered with shooting injuries. Those injured — consisting of one woman and three men all reportedly in their early to late twenties — were taken to nearby hospitals. Hospital staff stated that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one sustained moderate wounds, and one had injuries classified as minor. In a positive development, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento fire crews also responded and helped care for those who had been shot on location.
Physical Evidence
The primary shooting scene was believed to have taken place along the Cottage Way side of the park next to the Home Depot store at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Law enforcement investigators found extra shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Round impacts were discovered in the wrought iron fence alongside the Home Depot store. The physical evidence showed that at least one shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot. The store itself was put under lockdown for a period of time. Crime scene personnel remained on scene through the early morning hours.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received over police scanner frequencies established that a vehicle identified as a Kia was intercepted in an area within Solano County. Four detainees were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento law enforcement were heading to pick up the four detainees to bring the suspects back for further questioning. Video evidence confirmed that two individuals had fired weapons.