Sacramento authorities are working a shooting here that took place late Saturday at Howe Community Park at the moment officers were dissolving an unlawful assembly of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Prior to the Shooting
Deputies were first dispatched to Howe Community Park at about half past six in the evening after receiving reports of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Following that, a second call came in concerning an alleged brawl taking place inside the park.
Air support conducted an aerial sweep but reported no active disturbance. Despite this, it was apparent that an enormous crowd had congregated at Howe Park in an unauthorized manner.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Deputies worked to disperse the crowd by encircling the gathering and making announcements telling the assembled crowd to clear out. Around 15 minutes were spent for individuals to vacate.
Just as the crowd began to move that upwards of 20 gunshots rang out. The sudden gunfire sent the crowd running in all directions. Deputies wasted no time in locating gunshot victims.
Four People Shot
Altogether, four people were located with gunshot injuries. All four — including a female and three males all believed to be in their mid to late twenties — were airlifted or driven to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical personnel noted that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one victim's wounds were minor. As of last report, all four were expected to survive.
Sacramento fire crews also responded and provided medical assistance those who had been shot prior to hospital transport.
What Investigators Found
The center of the incident seemed to have occurred along the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the local Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Detectives located additional shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were also found in the wrought iron perimeter fencing surrounding the Home Depot store. The physical evidence suggested that one of the gunmen had been firing southward from the Cottage Way area in the direction of the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was placed on lockdown for a period of time. CSI units alongside detectives kept processing evidence throughout the night.
Detainees in Solano County
Intelligence received over police scanner frequencies confirmed that a vehicle identified as a Kia was pulled over in Solano County California. Four occupants were stopped and detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were traveling to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for formal questioning. Video reviewed at the scene revealed that there were two gunmen.