Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are examining a shooting incident that unfolded Saturday evening at Howe Park in Sacramento as authorities were breaking up an unlawful assembly of an estimated several hundred individuals.
How It Started
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first called to the park shortly before half past six in the evening after being notified of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Following that, additional information came in mentioning a potential altercation happening at the location.
A sheriff's airship conducted an aerial sweep but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Regardless, authorities discovered that a massive group had congregated at Howe Park without any permit or approval.
When the Shots Rang Out
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies set about removing people from the park by surrounding the park and issuing commands over loudspeakers instructing attendees to leave immediately. About 15 minutes were given for individuals to vacate.
It was during this dispersal that an estimated 20 to 25 shots cut through the air. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede. Responding personnel swiftly started locating gunshot victims.
Four People Shot
By the time the scene was secured, four people were discovered with shooting injuries. Those injured — including a female and three males each reported to be in their twenties — were transported to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical personnel stated that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Fortunately, all four were in stable condition.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District were called to the scene and provided medical assistance those who Cottage Way shooting Sacramento had been shot at the scene.
Crime Scene Evidence
The center of the incident seemed to have happened along the Cottage Way corridor next to the local Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Investigators found extra shell casings along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were noted in the iron fence adjacent to the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries confirmed that a shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was placed on lockdown while law enforcement worked the area. Crime scene technicians and detectives kept processing evidence for hours.
Suspects Detained
Details gathered through law enforcement radio communications indicated that a Kia connected to the shooting was pulled over in Solano County California. Four occupants were held for questioning. Law enforcement units were en route to collect those detained to transport the detainees for investigation. Surveillance footage revealed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.