Madera, California – According to police, the alleged gunman who opened fire in a Madera Walgreens had a vendetta against pharmacists. The store’s video surveillance footage shows 30-year-old Narciso Gallardo Fernandez displaying a handgun before opening fire. 34-year-old Erick Velazquez, a Walgreens employee, was killed in the ensuing chaos.
Madera Police Chief Giachino Chiaramonte said that while no motive has been established for the shooting, Fernandez made comments about large pharmacies. Fernandez continued:
We’re having difficulties because some of the statements show that he had anger towards pharmacies in general, not specifically Walgreens.
He added, Fernandez told some victims “this isn’t about you.”
Fernandez was arrested shortly after the incident and taken to the Madera County jail on charges of homicide. Walgreens said in a statement:
We are deeply saddened by last night’s tragic event, which resulted in the death of one of our team members. Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones during this difficult time. The safety of our customers and team members is our top priority, and we are working with local authorities in their investigation. We are focused on supporting our team members and will be offering on-site counseling services over the next couple days.
The Madera Walgreens location remained closed on Tuesday as the community asked wondered, why here? According to local police, Fernandez had no obvious ties to the community, and no history of run-ins with Madera police.
On Monday evening around 9:30 p.m., authorities responded to reports of gunfire at the local Walgreens. Upon arrival, officers discovered 34-year-old Erick Velazquez dead, he had no known connection to Fernandez. Other employees remained in hiding during the altercation.
According to authorities, Velasquez was not a pharmacist, simply an employee at the store. Fernandez is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
