Sacramento County Sheriff's Office investigators are probing a shooting that unfolded on April 18 2026 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area just as deputies were dissolving a large unsanctioned party of an estimated several hundred individuals.
How It Started
Law enforcement were first called to the park on Howe Avenue around 6:30 PM on April 18 after obtaining information of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Shortly after, additional information came in about a potential altercation breaking out at Howe Park.
An overhead unit scanned the area from the air but came back with no confirmation of a fight. Regardless, it was apparent that several hundred individuals had congregated at Howe Park without any permit or approval.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies worked to disperse the crowd by setting up around the park's perimeter and issuing commands over loudspeakers directing the crowd to clear out. Nearly 15 minutes were provided for attendees to disperse.
While deputies worked to disperse the gathering that between 20 and 25 rounds rang out. Gunfire sparked chaos as hundreds ran. Law enforcement quickly moved to searching for victims.
The Shooting Victims
In total, four shooting victims were confirmed as gunshot victims. The shooting victims — comprising three men and one woman each apparently in their twenties — were transported to area medical facilities. Doctors and nurses reported that two were treated for serious injuries, one victim's injuries were classified as moderate, and one person's injuries were considered minor. In a positive development, all four were expected to survive.
Sacramento Metro Fire assisted at the location and helped triage the injured at the park.
What Investigators Found
The primary shooting scene was determined to have taken place on the Cottage Way side of the park next to the Home Depot on the 2200 Howe Avenue block. Crime scene check here investigators recovered additional shell casings throughout the Cottage Way area. Ballistic damage were observed in the wrought iron fence surrounding the Home Depot. This ballistic evidence pointed to that a second shooter had been firing southward from along Cottage Way targeting the Home Depot building and parking lot. The Home Depot was locked down while the scene was active. CSI investigators and detectives kept processing evidence throughout the night.
Suspects Detained
Information obtained via scanner audio confirmed that a suspect Kia was pulled over in the Solano County area. Four suspects were taken into custody. Law enforcement units were sent to retrieve the detainees to pick up those detained for investigation. Footage analyzed by investigators confirmed that the shooting involved two separate gunmen.