Man with ‘anger toward pharmacies’ kills Walgreens worker on the job, police say

MADERA, Calif. (KMPH) – A Walgreens worker in California was shot and killed by a man who police say has “anger toward pharmacies.”

According to police, the shooting happened at about 9:30 p.m. Monday at a Walgreens store in Madera, California.

Video surveillance from the store shows 30-year-old Narciso Gallardo Fernandez walking into the Walgreens and shooting at the security camera inside.

According to Madera Police Chief Giachino Chiaramonte, the suspect then shot and killed a Walgreens clerk as other employees took cover.

The worker who was killed was identified as Erick Velasquez, who police said was a husband and a father of two children, including an infant.

The police chief said the suspected shooter and the victim did not know each other.

Officials are still trying to figure out why Fernandez targeted this Walgreens, but he did give them some clues.

“Some of the statements show that he had angers towards pharmacies in general, not specifically Walgreens,” Chiaramonte said.

But police are puzzled because Fernandez was not from the area. Chiaramonte said the suspect had “no ties” to Madera – he is from Pixley, California, which is over 80 miles south of Madera.

“He has no ties to Madera. He has no prior contacts with the sheriff’s department or PD here,” Chiaramonte said.

Even more puzzling, police said Fernandez bypassed other Walgreens workers who were trying to run away.

“He did communicate to some of the female victims that were out front and said, ‘This isn’t about you.’ And stormed off to his car to where officers found him reloading his handgun,” Chiaramonte said.

Officials are still trying to piece together the motive, all while Velasquez’s family is devastated losing their loved one.

“You could say only one life was lost, but we have numerous people touched trying to understand the ‘why,‘” Chiaramonte said. “I have a victim’s family. He’s got a wife. He’s got two children. One’s an infant, and they’re trying to get and understand why.”

Fernandez has been booked to the Madera County Jail on homicide charges.