Sacramento authorities are looking into a shooting incident that unfolded on April 18 2026 at Howe Park in Sacramento at the time Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were shutting down an unsanctioned gathering of several hundred people.
What Led to the Shooting
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were first called to Howe Community Park just after 6:30 PM after learning of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. get more info Not long after, a second caller reported mentioning a possible fight breaking out at Howe Park.
A law enforcement helicopter was sent to survey the area but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Nevertheless, it was evident that several hundred individuals had gathered without authorization without authorization.
When the Shots Rang Out
Officers began the process of clearing the park by forming a perimeter and making announcements instructing those gathered to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were spent for the crowd to leave.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were fired. The barrage of gunfire caused mass panic. Responding personnel quickly moved to searching for victims.
The Shooting Victims
When the dust settled, four shooting victims were located with gunshot injuries. Those injured — a group of one female and three male victims each apparently in their twenties — were transported to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical teams confirmed that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one sustained moderate wounds, and one victim's wounds were minor. In a positive development, each of the four victims was stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire provided support and helped care for those who had been shot at the park.
Physical Evidence
The main crime scene was confirmed to have unfolded along the Cottage Way corridor alongside the local Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Detectives discovered extra shell casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet holes were discovered in the wrought iron perimeter fencing surrounding the Home Depot. These findings indicated that one of the gunmen had been aiming south from the Cottage Way area aimed at the Home Depot store. The store itself was temporarily locked down as a precaution. CSI units alongside detectives kept processing evidence late into the evening.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Information relayed via scanner audio confirmed that a Kia had been stopped in the Solano County area. Four people were taken into custody. Sacramento law enforcement were heading to pick up the four detainees to transport the detainees for further questioning. Surveillance footage showed that there were two gunmen.