What we know about the Howe Park shooting that injured 4 people in Arden Arcade
Four people were wounded in a shooting Saturday evening near Howe Park in the Arden Arcade area of Sacramento County as deputies tried to break up an unauthorized gathering that drew several hundred people.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said Monday the investigation was ongoing, adding the gathering had been promoted as a UC Davis Picnic Day event, despite taking place about 20 miles from campus.
Here’s what we know:
• The victims are expected to survive. The four victims — a 24-year-old man, 25-year-old man, 21-year-old man and 23-year-old woman — suffered injuries not considered life-threatening. Three appeared to have been shot, while one man suffered a “grazing wound,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
• Deputies heard 20 to 25 gunshots coming from the direction of a nearby parking lot on Howe Avenue and Cottage Way as they were clearing the park. The crowd then fled the area.
• No arrests have been made. A vehicle of interest was located in Fairfield, where Solano County deputies detained two women and one man. A firearm was found inside the vehicle, but investigators said “these subjects’ level of involvement is unknown at this time.”
• The gathering was deemed unauthorized by Fulton-El Camino Recreation and Park District officials. Deputies had been called around 6:30 p.m. after reports of possible concealed weapons and a fight.
• Officials warned about unpermitted events. In a statement, the park district said it had “received reports of an unauthorized special event” and contacted the Sheriff’s Office “to ensure the safety of our community and the protection of park facilities.” Officials reminded the public that organized events require permits to ensure safety planning and coordination.
• Davis had ramped up enforcement for Picnic Day this year after last year’s event was marred by gunfire that wounded three people at an unsanctioned concert. Officials banned permitted off-campus events and established “safety enhancement zones,” but authorities said gatherings appeared to spread into surrounding areas.
• The investigation remains ongoing, the Sheriff’s Office said.
• What is Howe Park? Howe Park is a 38-acre community park in Sacramento County’s Arden Arcade neighborhood, next to Howe Avenue Elementary School, and bounded by Howe Avenue, Cottage Way and Bell Street. The park, developed in the late 1950s, includes the Richard T. Conzelmann Community Center, sports fields and courts, a dog park, playgrounds, picnic areas, a pond with fishing piers, a creek, walking paths and other recreational facilities.
• Crime in the park is relatively low. Sheriff’s Office data shows at least 15 incidents in and around Howe Park since 2025, including eight aggravated assaults, five robberies and two vehicle thefts across the park, nearby streets and residential areas.