A shooting at a Walgreens store in Madera left one employee dead and the suspect in custody Monday night. The victim was identified as Erick Velasquez, who was found inside the store after police responded to reports of gunfire around 9:30 p.m..
Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, the suspect, was arrested in the parking lot as he was reloading his handgun. Police said Fernandez traveled from Pixley to Madera and entered the store with a handgun, shooting Velasquez and then firing at other employees as they fled. No one else was injured in the incident.
According to authorities, there is no indication that Velasquez and Fernandez knew each other. Madera Police Chief Giachino Chiaramonte noted that while the investigation is ongoing, there are no known ties between Fernandez and the city of Madera.
Police are exploring the possibility that Fernandez had a grudge against large pharmacies, but a clear motive for the shooting has not been established. Walgreens released a statement expressing sadness over the incident and emphasizing the safety of its customers and employees as a top priority.
The shooting occurred at the Walgreens located on West Cleveland Avenue, near Highway 99. Customers were inside the store at the time of the shooting but were not injured. The Madera Police Department is continuing its investigation and has asked anyone with additional information to come forward.
A GoFundMe was organized to aid Velazquez’s surviving wife and two young children. The fundraiser, with a $11,000 goal, has so far raised just over $5,000.
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