Officials in Sacramento County are probing a gun violence incident that erupted Saturday evening at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area as law enforcement were clearing a large unauthorized gathering of several hundred people.
How It Started
Law enforcement were first called to the click here park on Howe Avenue shortly before 6:30 in the evening after receiving reports of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Following that, a second call came in regarding a reported physical confrontation unfolding near the park.
An overhead unit flew over the park but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Even so, authorities discovered that an enormous crowd had congregated at Howe Park in an unauthorized manner.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Responding units set about removing people from the park by setting up around the park's perimeter and announcing over their public address systems commanding those gathered to disperse at once. Approximately 15 minutes were provided for attendees to disperse.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that between 20 and 25 rounds rang out. The sudden gunfire sent hundreds fleeing. Law enforcement at once began locating gunshot victims.
Four Gunshot Victims
In total, four gunshot victims were found to have been shot. Those injured — made up of one woman and three men all reportedly in their mid to late twenties — were airlifted or driven to area medical facilities. Medical teams reported that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. In a positive development, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento were called to the scene and provided medical assistance shooting victims at the park.
Physical Evidence
Most of the gunfire was believed to have occurred adjacent to the Cottage Way side of the park near the Home Depot store on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators recovered extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Bullet damage were observed in the iron fence adjacent to the nearby Home Depot. This evidence showed that a second shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from Cottage Way toward the Home Depot building and parking lot. The Home Depot was put under lockdown while the scene was active. CSI units alongside detectives kept processing evidence well into the night.
Suspect Information
Reports confirmed over police scanner frequencies confirmed that a Kia connected to the shooting was pulled over in an area within Solano County. Four detainees were stopped and detained. Sheriff's units were heading to pick up the four detainees to return them to Sacramento for questioning. Surveillance footage made clear that two individuals had fired weapons.