Sacramento County deputies are probing a gunfire incident that unfolded on the evening of April 18 at Howe Community Park as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were clearing an unsanctioned gathering of several hundred people.
Before the Gunfire
Deputies initially got calls about the Arden-Arcade park just after 6:30 PM on April 18 after being notified of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. Not long after, additional information came in mentioning a potential altercation unfolding within the park grounds.
Air support scanned the area from the air but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Regardless, it became clear that a massive group had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
When the Shots Rang Out
Officers moved to clear the area by encircling the gathering and issuing commands over loudspeakers instructing the crowd to go home. Nearly 15 minutes were spent for the gathering to break up.
It was during this dispersal that an estimated 20 to 25 shots echoed through the night. The rapid succession of shots triggered a stampede. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies at once began identifying shooting victims.
The Shooting Victims
By the time the scene was secured, four victims were discovered with shooting injuries. All four — including a female and three males each apparently in their 20s — were taken Howe Community Park shooting 2026 to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical teams reported that two were treated for serious injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one suffered minor injuries. As of last report, all four were expected to survive.
Metro Fire Sacramento assisted at the location and helped triage those who had been shot prior to hospital transport.
Evidence at the Scene
The bulk of the shooting seemed to have occurred on the Cottage Way side of the park near the Home Depot situated at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. CSI personnel located additional shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were observed in the metal fencing surrounding the Home Depot. These findings indicated that a second shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot. The store itself was temporarily locked down while the scene was active. Crime scene technicians and detectives remained on scene throughout the night.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Information relayed through scanner monitoring established that a Kia had been detained in an area within Solano County. Four people were detained. Sheriff's units were heading to pick up the four detainees to bring the suspects back for investigation. Surveillance footage confirmed that two individuals had fired weapons.