A woman was killed Tuesday afternoon in a shooting near Howe Avenue in Sacramento County, setting off a large police response that later shut down parts of Highway 50 during a standoff.
Deputies were called to the 800 block of Howe Avenue in the Arden-Arcade area shortly after 3 p.m. after multiple reports of gunfire near a Panera Bread restaurant. Officers found a woman who was unresponsive at the scene. Medical personnel attempted to assist her, but she was pronounced dead.
Investigators believe the shooting was not a random incident. Witnesses reported seeing a man shoot the woman before leaving the area in a vehicle.
That vehicle was later located on Highway 50 near Howe Avenue. Law enforcement officers surrounded the vehicle after the driver stopped and remained inside, leading to a standoff that disrupted traffic in both directions.
Authorities eventually approached the vehicle and found a man inside who appeared to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident caused significant traffic problems along Highway 50 as officers worked to secure the area. Westbound traffic began moving again during the afternoon, while several eastbound lanes remained closed as the investigation continued. The highway was fully reopened later Tuesday evening.
The shooting investigation and the activity on Highway 50 appear to be connected, according to authorities. Investigators are continuing to work to establish the circumstances leading up to the shooting and the relationship, if any, between the woman and the man who died.
The incident occurred on the same day that another fatal law enforcement shooting had caused a separate disruption on Highway 50 in Sacramento County. That earlier incident followed a pursuit that began on Folsom Boulevard and ended near Hazel Avenue.
Authorities have not released the identities of the woman or the man involved in the Howe Avenue shooting. Additional details may be released as the investigation continues.
