Officials in Sacramento County are probing a shooting that erupted late Saturday at Howe Community Park as law enforcement were dissolving a large unsanctioned party of a crowd of several hundred.
How It Started
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies initially responded to Howe Community Park shortly before 6:30 PM after obtaining information of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Not long after, a second call came in regarding a possible fight taking place within the park grounds.
A sheriff's airship scanned the area from the air but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Nevertheless, it was evident that an enormous crowd had come together at the location in an unauthorized manner.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel set about removing people from the park by surrounding the park and making announcements commanding attendees to disperse at once. Approximately 15 minutes were allotted for people to comply.
Just as the crowd began to move that upwards of 20 gunshots rang out. The rapid succession of shots caused mass panic. Responding personnel immediately began locating gunshot victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Altogether, four victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. Those injured — a group of one female and three male victims all reportedly in their early to late twenties — were rushed to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical teams stated that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one victim's wounds were minor. Fortunately, all four victims survived and were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District provided support and helped triage those who had been shot prior to hospital transport.
Physical Evidence
The center of the incident was believed to have been concentrated along the Cottage Way corridor adjacent to the Home Depot store located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. CSI personnel recovered extra shell casings on Cottage get more info Way. Bullet damage were discovered in the iron fence near the nearby Home Depot. This ballistic evidence showed that a second shooter had been aiming south from the Cottage Way area aimed at the Home Depot store. 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.
Detainees in Solano County
Information obtained over scanner radio traffic established that a suspect Kia was intercepted in Solano County. Four occupants were stopped and detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were heading to pick up the four detainees to bring the suspects back for processing in Sacramento County. Video that was reviewed revealed that there were two gunmen.