Sacramento County deputies are looking into a gun violence incident that broke out on the evening of April 18 at Howe Park in Sacramento as deputies were dissolving an unsanctioned gathering of several hundred people.
Before the Gunfire
Law enforcement were first dispatched to the park on Howe Avenue around 6:30 Saturday evening after being notified of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Following that, a second call came in regarding a potential altercation happening at Howe Park.
An overhead unit scanned the area from the air but came back with no confirmation of a fight. However, it became clear that several hundred individuals had come together at the location without permission.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Law enforcement personnel moved to clear the area by forming a perimeter and making announcements Arden Arcade Sacramento crime 2026 instructing the crowd to clear out. Roughly 15 minutes were allotted for people to comply.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that an estimated 20 to 25 shots were fired. Gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Officers immediately began finding those who had been shot.
Four Gunshot Victims
Altogether, four gunshot victims were identified as having gunshot wounds. The four individuals — comprising three men and one woman each apparently in their mid to late twenties — were transported to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical personnel stated that two had critical injury classifications, one sustained moderate wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, all four were expected to survive.
Metro Fire Sacramento were called to the scene and helped care for shooting victims at the scene.
Evidence at the Scene
The main crime scene was believed to have unfolded along Cottage Way near the Home Depot store on the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators discovered more spent casings along Cottage Way. Round impacts were identified in the wrought iron fence bordering the Home Depot. These discoveries showed that at least one shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. That Home Depot location was put under lockdown during the incident. CSI units alongside detectives kept processing evidence well into the night.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Details gathered via scanner audio established that a suspect Kia was contacted by law enforcement in nearby Solano County. Four occupants were in the vehicle at the time of the stop. Sacramento law enforcement were sent to retrieve the detainees to collect the individuals for further questioning. Video reviewed at the scene established that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.