Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are probing a shooting incident that occurred on April 18 2026 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area while deputies were shutting down a large unauthorized gathering of several hundred people.
Background
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies initially got calls about the park just after 6:30 PM after receiving reports of individuals who may have had concealed firearms. Shortly after, a follow-up call was made mentioning a potential altercation happening near the park.
A sheriff's airship was sent to survey the area but was unable to locate the reported altercation. Even so, deputies found that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park without permission.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Deputies began the process of clearing the park by setting up around the park's perimeter and making announcements ordering those gathered to disperse at once. Around 15 minutes were allotted for individuals to vacate.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition were discharged. Gunfire triggered a stampede. Law enforcement wasted no time in searching for victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
In total, four gunshot victims were discovered with shooting injuries. Those injured — a group of one female and three male victims each apparently in their early to late twenties — were rushed to hospitals in the Sacramento area. Emergency physicians reported that two had critical injury classifications, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. As of last report, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District provided support and assisted with medical triage those with gunshot wounds at the park.
Crime Scene Evidence
The primary shooting scene was confirmed to have unfolded along the Cottage Way side of the park near the Home Depot store located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Detectives recovered more spent casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Round impacts were identified in the metal fencing adjacent to the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence showed that at least one shooter had been sending rounds south from along Cottage Way aimed at the Home Depot. The nearby Home Depot was more info placed on lockdown for a period of time. CSI investigators and detectives continued working through the early morning hours.
Arrests Made
Reports confirmed via scanner audio confirmed that a Kia vehicle was pulled over in the Solano County area. Four detainees were detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were heading to pick up the four detainees to bring the suspects back for formal questioning. Footage analyzed by investigators established that there were two gunmen.