Officials in Sacramento County are investigating a gun violence incident that erupted on April 18 2026 at Howe Community Park at the time authorities were shutting down a large unsanctioned party of multiple hundreds of people.
Prior to the Shooting
Sacramento County law enforcement were first called to Howe Community Park around half past six in the evening after getting calls of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Soon after, additional information came in concerning a reported physical confrontation occurring at Howe Park.
A law enforcement helicopter searched from above but came back with no confirmation of a fight. However, it was apparent that hundreds of people had assembled at the park without official sanction.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies moved to clear the area by setting up around the park's perimeter and broadcasting over loudspeakers instructing those gathered to disperse at once. Nearly 15 minutes were given for people to comply.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that upwards of 20 gunshots echoed through the night. Gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Officers immediately began identifying shooting victims.
Four People Shot
In total, four shooting victims were located with gunshot injuries. The victims — including a female and three males ranging in age through their in their early to late twenties — were transported to local Sacramento hospitals. Emergency physicians reported that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Fortunately, all four were in stable condition.
Sacramento fire crews arrived on scene and helped triage shooting victims prior to hospital transport.
What Investigators Found
Most of the gunfire appears to have been unauthorized gathering shooting Sacramento concentrated near the Cottage Way corridor close to the local Home Depot located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators found more spent casings scattered along Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were observed in the wrought iron fence near the nearby Home Depot. These findings suggested that at least one of the shooters had been firing southward from along Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot building and parking lot. The nearby Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown during the incident. Crime scene personnel remained on scene well into the night.
Arrests Made
Details gathered via scanner audio revealed that a suspect Kia had been stopped in Solano County. Four detainees were taken into custody. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were traveling to Solano County to transport the detainees for further questioning. Video that was reviewed established that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.