Officials in Sacramento County are examining a violent incident that unfolded on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area at the time law enforcement were clearing an unlawful assembly of multiple hundreds of people.
Prior to the Shooting
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office first arrived at the Arden-Arcade park at approximately 6:30 Saturday evening after obtaining information of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Soon after, a second call came in concerning an alleged brawl unfolding at the location.
Air support conducted an aerial sweep but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Nevertheless, it was evident that hundreds of people had gathered without authorization without any permit or approval.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel moved to clear the area by forming a perimeter and issuing commands over loudspeakers commanding attendees to go home. Nearly 15 minutes were provided for individuals to vacate.
At the height of the dispersal effort that between 20 and 25 rounds were discharged. The rapid succession of shots sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Law enforcement swiftly started identifying shooting victims.
The Shooting Victims
When the dust settled, four victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. All four — a group of one female and three male victims all believed to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were taken to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical personnel indicated that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. Thankfully, each of the four victims was stable.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department assisted at the location and assisted with medical triage the four victims at the park.
Crime Scene Evidence
The bulk of the shooting seemed to have unfolded along the Cottage Way side of the park adjacent to the Home Depot store on the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators located more spent casings scattered along Cottage Way. Bullet damage were noted in the wrought iron perimeter fencing bordering the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence indicated that one of the gunmen had been aiming south from Cottage Way toward the Home Depot store. The nearby Home Depot was placed on lockdown for a period of time. CSI investigators and detectives remained on scene for hours.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Intelligence received over police scanner frequencies established that a Kia had been stopped website in the Solano County area. Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Deputies were sent to retrieve the detainees to pick up those detained for processing in Sacramento County. Video reviewed at the scene revealed that there were two gunmen.