Violence at Howe Community Park Results in Four People Injured in the Arden-Arcade Area of Sacramento

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are looking into a shooting that occurred on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area while law enforcement were shutting down an unauthorized event of an estimated several hundred individuals.

Prior to the Shooting

Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first called to the park shortly before 6:30 in the evening after getting calls of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Shortly after, a second caller reported here concerning a possible physical fight happening at the location.

Aerial units scanned the area from the air but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Even so, it was apparent that a massive group had come together at the location without authorization.

The Moment Gunfire Erupted

Law enforcement personnel worked to disperse the crowd by forming a perimeter and broadcasting over loudspeakers commanding attendees to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were allowed for attendees to disperse.

It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition rang out. The rapid succession of shots triggered a stampede. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies wasted no time in identifying shooting victims.

Those Who Were Hit

By the time the scene was secured, four individuals were found to have been shot. All four — made up of one woman and three men all reportedly in their mid to late twenties — were transported to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Emergency physicians reported that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one suffered minor injuries. Fortunately, all four were expected to survive.

Sacramento fire crews provided support and aided in treating those who had been shot prior to hospital transport.

Physical Evidence

The bulk of the shooting was believed to have taken place adjacent to the Cottage Way side of the park close to the Home Depot located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Investigators discovered extra shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Projectile impacts were also found in the iron fence near the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries confirmed that a second shooter had been firing southward from Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was placed on lockdown during the incident. CSI investigators and detectives worked tirelessly late into the evening.

Arrests Made

Information obtained through scanner monitoring indicated that a Kia vehicle was intercepted in the Solano County area. Four people were taken into custody. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Solano County to bring the suspects back for formal questioning. Video that was reviewed revealed that there were two gunmen.