Officials in Sacramento County are examining a gun violence incident that broke out on April 18 2026 at Howe Community Park as website officers were breaking up an unsanctioned gathering of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Before the Gunfire
Law enforcement initially got calls about the park at approximately 6:30 in the evening after getting calls of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Shortly after, a follow-up call was made about a possible fight breaking out near the park.
Air support flew over the park but reported no active disturbance. Despite this, it was apparent that a crowd of several hundred had congregated at Howe Park without any permit or approval.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Deputies set about removing people from the park by encircling the gathering and announcing over their public address systems directing the crowd to disperse at once. Roughly 15 minutes were spent for the gathering to break up.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that 20 to 25 gunshots echoed through the night. Gunfire triggered a stampede. Deputies swiftly started identifying shooting victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
When the dust settled, four shooting victims were discovered with shooting injuries. All four — comprising three men and one woman ranging in age through their in their mid to late twenties — were taken to local Sacramento hospitals. Medical personnel stated that two victims were in serious condition, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one person's injuries were considered minor. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.
Metro Fire Sacramento assisted at the location and helped triage those who had been shot on location.
The Investigation
The center of the incident was confirmed to have occurred on Cottage Way near the local Home Depot at the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Law enforcement investigators discovered additional spent rounds scattered along Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were observed in the wrought iron perimeter fencing alongside the Home Depot store. This evidence confirmed that one of the gunmen had been aiming south from the Cottage Way area targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The nearby Home Depot was temporarily locked down for a period of time. CSI units alongside detectives stayed at the location through the early morning hours.
Suspects Detained
Details gathered through law enforcement radio communications showed that a vehicle identified as a Kia was contacted by law enforcement in Solano County. Four people were taken into custody. Deputies were traveling to Solano County to bring the suspects back for investigation. Footage analyzed by investigators revealed that there were two gunmen.