Sacramento County deputies are working a gun violence incident that erupted on April 18 2026 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area while officers were dissolving a large unsanctioned party of an estimated several hundred individuals.
Background
Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office were first called to Howe Community Park at about 6:30 Saturday evening after receiving reports of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Soon after, a second call came here in mentioning a potential altercation taking place inside the park.
A sheriff's airship scanned the area from the air but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Regardless, it became clear that a crowd of several hundred had come together at the location without official sanction.
The Dispersal and Shooting
Responding units moved to clear the area by surrounding the park and issuing commands over loudspeakers telling the crowd to vacate the area. Around 15 minutes were provided for the gathering to break up.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition rang out. The sudden gunfire triggered a stampede. Officers swiftly started identifying shooting victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
Altogether, four people were identified as having gunshot wounds. The shooting victims — a group of one female and three male victims all reportedly in their twenties — were taken to nearby hospitals. Emergency physicians confirmed that two of the four had injuries classified as immediate, one person had injuries of a moderate nature, and one victim's wounds were minor. Thankfully, all four victims survived and were stable.
Sacramento Metro Fire arrived on scene and provided medical assistance those with gunshot wounds before they were taken to the hospital.
Crime Scene Evidence
The main crime scene seemed to have happened adjacent to the Cottage Way corridor close to the local Home Depot located at the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Detectives recovered further ballistic evidence in the form of shell casings scattered along Cottage Way. Round impacts were noted in the wrought iron perimeter fencing near the nearby Home Depot. The physical evidence indicated that at least one of the shooters had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area aimed at the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was temporarily locked down during the incident. Forensic investigators and law enforcement detectives stayed at the location through the early morning hours.
Detainees in Solano County
Information relayed over police scanner frequencies showed that a Kia vehicle was pulled over in nearby Solano County. Four detainees were stopped and detained. Sacramento law enforcement were traveling to Solano County to transport the detainees for investigation. Video reviewed at the scene showed that there were two gunmen.