Officials in Sacramento County are working a gun violence incident that broke out Saturday evening at Howe Community Park at the time deputies were breaking up a large unauthorized gathering of hundreds of attendees.
Prior to the Shooting
Law enforcement initially responded to Howe Community Park shortly before 6:30 PM after getting calls of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Shortly after, a second call came in describing an alleged brawl unfolding at the location.
A sheriff's airship scanned the area from the air but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Regardless, it was apparent that a massive group had come together at the location in an unauthorized manner.
The Shooting Itself
Officers worked to disperse the crowd by forming a perimeter and broadcasting over loudspeakers telling the assembled crowd to clear out. Approximately 15 minutes were allowed for the crowd to leave.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that between 20 and 25 rounds cut through the air. The barrage of gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Responding personnel immediately began finding those who had been shot.
Four Gunshot Victims
When the dust settled, four individuals were located with gunshot injuries. The victims — a group of one female and three male victims ranging in age through their in their 20s — were taken to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Hospital staff confirmed that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one person website had injuries of a moderate nature, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District assisted at the location and provided medical assistance shooting victims at the scene.
Physical Evidence
The primary shooting scene was believed to have happened near the Cottage Way corridor alongside the Home Depot store situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators found extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were also found in the iron fence bordering the nearby Home Depot. These findings suggested that at least one shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot store. The store itself was put under lockdown for a period of time. CSI units alongside detectives worked tirelessly through the early morning hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Information relayed through scanner monitoring showed that a Kia vehicle was contacted by law enforcement in an area within Solano County. Four people were stopped and detained. Sheriff's units were sent to retrieve the detainees to return them to Sacramento for further questioning. Footage analyzed by investigators established that two individuals had fired weapons.