Officials in Sacramento County are probing a violent incident that occurred on April 18 2026 at Howe Park at the time officers were breaking up an unlawful assembly of an estimated several hundred individuals.

Prior to the Shooting

Officers from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office initially responded to the park on Howe Avenue shortly before half past six in the evening after obtaining information of people potentially armed with concealed firearms. Not long after, a follow-up call was made describing a reported physical confrontation breaking out inside the park.

Air support flew over the park but found nothing to substantiate the fight report. Even so, deputies found that a crowd of several hundred had assembled at the park without authorization.

When the Shots Rang Out

Officers started clearing the unauthorized gathering by encircling the gathering and announcing over their public address systems instructing the crowd to vacate the area. Nearly 15 minutes were provided for individuals to vacate.

Just as the crowd began to move that 20 to 25 rounds of ammunition cut through the air. The barrage of gunfire caused mass panic. Deputies wasted no time in searching for victims.

Four People more info Shot

In total, four people were located with gunshot injuries. Those injured — consisting of one woman and three men ranging in age through their in their 20s — were taken to Sacramento area hospitals. Medical personnel reported that two victims were in serious condition, one had moderate injuries, and one sustained minor gunshot wounds. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported and all four were stable.

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department assisted at the location and assisted with medical triage the four victims at the park.

Physical Evidence

The center of the incident was believed to have happened adjacent to Cottage Way adjacent to the Home Depot store at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. CSI personnel found additional spent rounds on Cottage Way. Bullet damage were also found in the iron fence near the nearby Home Depot. This evidence suggested that at least one shooter had been aiming south from the Cottage Way area toward the Home Depot store. The nearby Home Depot was secured under a brief lockdown as a precaution. CSI units alongside detectives continued working late into the evening.

Detainees in Solano County

Details gathered over police scanner frequencies confirmed that a Kia connected to the shooting had been detained in nearby Solano County. Four suspects were stopped and detained. Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies were en route to collect those detained to bring the suspects back for questioning. Video that was reviewed revealed that two shooters had been involved.