Officials in Sacramento County are working a gunfire incident that broke out late Saturday at Howe Park while deputies were shutting down a large unauthorized gathering of hundreds of attendees.
Before the Gunfire
Deputies initially responded to the park on Howe Avenue at approximately 6:30 PM after getting calls of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. After that, additional information came in mentioning a potential altercation happening inside the park.
Air support conducted an aerial sweep but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Even so, it was apparent that a massive group had Sacramento park shooting 2026 congregated at Howe Park without permission.
The Shooting Itself
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies began the process of clearing the park by surrounding the park and using their vehicle PA systems instructing the assembled crowd to clear out. Approximately 15 minutes were allotted for attendees to disperse.
At the height of the dispersal effort that upwards of 20 gunshots were fired. The sudden gunfire caused mass panic. Law enforcement immediately began identifying shooting victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Ultimately, four victims were confirmed as gunshot victims. The shooting victims — consisting of one woman and three men all believed to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were airlifted or driven to Sacramento area hospitals. Emergency physicians stated that two victims sustained immediate injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one person's injuries were considered minor. Fortunately, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District were called to the scene and provided medical assistance those who had been shot at the park.
What Investigators Found
The center of the incident was confirmed to have taken place on the Cottage Way corridor near the Home Depot store located at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Crime scene investigators recovered extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were identified in the wrought iron perimeter fencing adjacent to the Home Depot. These findings suggested that at least one shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown during the incident. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives worked tirelessly throughout the night.
Arrests Made
Information relayed through law enforcement radio communications indicated that a Kia had been stopped in the Solano County area. Four occupants were taken into custody. Law enforcement units were sent to retrieve the detainees to transport the detainees for investigation. Video that was reviewed revealed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.