Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are working a gun violence incident that took place on April 18 2026 at Howe Park just as deputies were clearing an unlawful assembly of hundreds of attendees.
Background
Law enforcement were first dispatched to the park at about half past six in the evening after learning of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Following that, additional information came in about a reported physical confrontation unfolding within the park grounds.
An overhead unit flew over the park but was unable to locate the reported altercation. However, it was apparent that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park without official sanction.
The Shooting Itself
Deputies worked to disperse the crowd by forming a perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems commanding those gathered to leave immediately. Around 15 minutes were spent for attendees to disperse.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that between 20 and 25 rounds echoed through the night. The shots caused mass panic. Officers at once began looking check here for those injured.
Four People Shot
By the time the scene was secured, four individuals were found to have been shot. The four individuals — a group of one female and three male victims ranging in age through their in their 20s at the time of the incident — were airlifted or driven to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Medical personnel confirmed that two had critical injury classifications, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one victim's wounds were minor. Thankfully, all four were expected to survive.
Metro Fire Sacramento arrived on scene and helped care for the four victims at the park.
What Investigators Found
Most of the gunfire seemed to have happened on the Cottage Way side of the park alongside the Home Depot store situated at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Crime scene investigators identified more spent casings scattered along Cottage Way. Ballistic damage were discovered in the iron fence alongside the nearby Home Depot. These discoveries showed that a second shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from Cottage Way in the direction of the Home Depot building and parking lot. The nearby Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown while the scene was active. CSI investigators and detectives remained on scene throughout the night.
Suspects Detained
Information obtained over police scanner frequencies established that a Kia vehicle had been detained in the Solano County area. Four individuals were stopped and detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were sent to retrieve the detainees to bring the suspects back for formal questioning. Video reviewed at the scene revealed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.