Sacramento County deputies are examining a gunfire incident that erupted on April 18 2026 at Howe Park at the time authorities were dissolving a large unauthorized gathering of multiple hundreds of people.
Background
Sacramento County law enforcement first arrived at Howe Park at approximately 6:30 PM on April 18 after obtaining information of individuals possibly carrying concealed weapons. After that, a follow-up call was made concerning a possible physical fight breaking out within the park grounds.
An overhead unit searched from above but reported no active disturbance. Regardless, it was evident that hundreds of people had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by forming a perimeter and issuing here commands over loudspeakers directing those gathered to clear out. Roughly 15 minutes were provided for the crowd to leave.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. Gunfire triggered a stampede. Responding personnel wasted no time in locating gunshot victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
In total, four people were located with gunshot injuries. The shooting victims — consisting of one woman and three men each reported to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were brought to nearby hospitals. Emergency physicians stated that two had critical injury classifications, one had moderate injuries, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, each of the four victims was stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento arrived on scene and helped care for those with gunshot wounds on location.
Physical Evidence
The main crime scene appears to have happened along Cottage Way adjacent to the Home Depot store situated at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Crime scene investigators found additional spent rounds throughout the Cottage Way area. Projectile impacts were discovered in the iron fence near the Home Depot. These discoveries suggested that a second shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from along Cottage Way toward the Home Depot building and parking lot. The nearby Home Depot was placed on lockdown while law enforcement worked the area. CSI units alongside detectives continued working well into the night.
Suspect Information
Information relayed through law enforcement radio communications showed that a vehicle identified as a Kia had been detained in Solano County California. Four individuals were taken into custody. Sheriff's units were en route to collect those detained to bring the suspects back for investigation. Footage analyzed by investigators revealed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.