Sacramento County deputies are examining a shooting incident that erupted on April 18 2026 at the Howe Community Park area while deputies were dispersing a large unsanctioned party of multiple hundreds of people.
What Led to the Shooting
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially responded to Howe Park at approximately half past six in the evening after learning of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Shortly after, a follow-up call was made concerning a potential altercation taking place at the location.
An overhead unit was sent to survey the area but reported no active disturbance. Nevertheless, it was evident that a massive group had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
The Shooting Itself
Responding units set about removing people from the park by positioning themselves around the crowd and announcing over their public address systems telling attendees to go home. Around 15 minutes were given for attendees to disperse.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. The shots sent the crowd running in all directions. Deputies at once began identifying shooting victims.
Four People Shot
Altogether, four people were confirmed as gunshot victims. The four individuals — made up of one woman and three men all believed to be in their 20s at the time of the incident — were airlifted or driven to nearby hospitals. Medical personnel noted that two had critical injury classifications, one sustained moderate wounds, and one sustained minor Cottage Way shooting Sacramento gunshot wounds. Fortunately, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department arrived on scene and provided medical assistance the injured at the scene.
What Investigators Found
The bulk of the shooting seemed to have unfolded adjacent to the Cottage Way corridor next to the Home Depot store situated at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene investigators found extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Projectile impacts were discovered in the iron perimeter fence bordering the Home Depot. This evidence suggested that one of the gunmen had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area toward the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was secured under a brief lockdown during the incident. Crime scene personnel stayed at the location for hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Information obtained over scanner radio traffic indicated that a vehicle identified as a Kia had been detained in nearby Solano County. Four detainees were detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were en route to collect those detained to return them to Sacramento for questioning. Video reviewed at the scene confirmed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.