Officials in Sacramento County are examining a shooting that occurred late Saturday at Howe Park in Sacramento at the moment deputies were breaking up a large click here unauthorized gathering of hundreds of attendees.
Background
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies first arrived at Howe Park shortly before 6:30 in the evening after getting calls of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Following that, a second call came in describing a possible fight breaking out near the park.
A law enforcement helicopter flew over the park but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Regardless, authorities discovered that an enormous crowd had packed into the park without official sanction.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Responding units moved to clear the area by forming a perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems ordering the assembled crowd to clear out. About 15 minutes were allotted for the crowd to leave.
At the height of the dispersal effort that 20 to 25 gunshots were fired. The shots sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies at once began identifying shooting victims.
Four Gunshot Victims
When the dust settled, four people were located with gunshot injuries. The shooting victims — a group of one female and three male victims each apparently in their 20s at the time of the incident — were airlifted or driven to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical personnel reported that two were treated for serious injuries, one sustained moderate wounds, and one person's injuries were considered minor. As of last report, all four were expected to survive.
Sacramento fire crews provided support and assisted with medical triage the four victims on location.
The Investigation
The center of the incident seemed to have been concentrated near the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the Home Depot situated at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Law enforcement investigators discovered additional spent rounds on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet damage were discovered in the wrought iron perimeter fencing adjacent to the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence indicated that at least one of the shooters had been sending rounds south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was temporarily locked down while the scene was active. Crime scene technicians and detectives worked tirelessly throughout the night.
Suspects Detained
Information relayed over scanner radio traffic showed that a Kia connected to the shooting was contacted by law enforcement in the Solano County area. Four individuals were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento law enforcement were traveling to Solano County to pick up those detained for processing in Sacramento County. Video evidence made clear that two separate shooters participated in the incident.