Officials in Sacramento County are working a gun violence incident that broke out on April 18 2026 at Howe Park as deputies were breaking up an unauthorized event of several hundred people.
Prior to the Shooting
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were first called to the Arden-Arcade park at about 6:30 PM on April 18 after obtaining information of persons possibly in possession of concealed weapons. Following that, another report was received mentioning an alleged brawl breaking out within the park grounds.
An overhead unit was sent to survey the area but came back with no confirmation of a check here fight. Nevertheless, it became clear that several hundred individuals had assembled at the park in an unauthorized manner.
The Moment Gunfire Erupted
Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by surrounding the park and using their vehicle PA systems directing attendees to go home. Roughly 15 minutes were allowed for the crowd to leave.
It was during this dispersal that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition echoed through the night. Gunfire sent hundreds fleeing. Deputies at once began looking for those injured.
The Shooting Victims
In total, four victims were found to have been shot. The shooting victims — comprising three men and one woman each apparently in their 20s at the time of the incident — were brought to Sacramento area hospitals. Hospital staff reported that two had critical injury classifications, one sustained moderate wounds, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Fortunately, each of the four victims was stable.
Sacramento fire crews assisted at the location and aided in treating the injured at the park.
What Investigators Found
The center of the incident seemed to have unfolded on Cottage Way near the Home Depot on the 2200 block of Howe Ave. Investigators identified more spent casings on the Cottage Way roadway. Bullet holes were also found in the wrought iron fence surrounding the Home Depot. These discoveries confirmed that a shooter had been shooting in a southerly direction from the Cottage Way area toward the Home Depot store. The Home Depot was placed on lockdown during the incident. Crime scene technicians and detectives continued working late into the evening.
Suspect Information
Intelligence received over scanner radio traffic confirmed that a Kia had been detained in an area within Solano County. Four occupants were detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were sent to retrieve the detainees to pick up those detained for processing in Sacramento County. Footage analyzed by investigators confirmed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.