Sacramento County deputies are looking into a shooting that unfolded Saturday evening at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area while Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were clearing an unauthorized event of multiple hundreds of people.
Before the Gunfire
Law enforcement were first dispatched to the Arden-Arcade park at about half past six in the evening after obtaining information of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Following that, additional information came in describing a potential altercation unfolding inside the park.
A law enforcement helicopter conducted an aerial sweep but reported no active disturbance. Even so, it was apparent that hundreds of people had assembled at the park without authorization.
When the Shots Rang Out
Law enforcement personnel moved to clear the area by positioning themselves around the crowd and making announcements telling attendees to disperse at once. Roughly 15 minutes were provided for attendees to disperse.
It was during this dispersal that between 20 and 25 rounds cut through the air. The barrage of gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Officers swiftly started finding those who had been shot.
Four People Shot
By the time the scene was secured, four gunshot victims were confirmed as gunshot victims. Those injured — comprising three men and one woman all reportedly in their 20s — were brought to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Emergency physicians reported that two victims were in serious condition, one Howe Park shooting Sacramento victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one had injuries classified as minor. Thankfully, each of the four victims was stable.
Sacramento fire crews were called to the scene and assisted with medical triage those who had been shot at the scene.
The Investigation
The main crime scene was determined to have occurred near Cottage Way close to the local Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Detectives located further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Ballistic damage were identified in the iron perimeter fence adjacent to the Home Depot store. These findings confirmed that at least one of the shooters had been firing southward from Cottage Way toward the Home Depot store. That Home Depot location was secured under a brief lockdown while the scene was active. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives continued working for hours.
Suspects Detained
Reports confirmed over police scanner frequencies indicated that a suspect Kia had been detained in an area within Solano County. Four detainees were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Law enforcement units were traveling to Solano County to bring the suspects back for processing in Sacramento County. Video that was reviewed confirmed that there were two gunmen.