A man with no ties to Madera, San Joaquin Valley city, whom police said had expressed anger towards the “drug” shot dead a Walgreens employee later last month and fired a gunshot on others inside the store.
The March 31 violence unfolded at 9:35pm, about 30 minutes before the Walgreens location in the 2000 block of West Cleveland Avenue, police said in a news release.
The suspect, identified as Narciso Garraldo Fernandez, now 30, was captured by waving at the store’s surveillance camera before shooting the camera with the gun he held his left hand.
By the time police arrived, Fernandez fatally shot store employee Eric Velázquez and fired two other employees who fled the store when the shooting erupted.
It was found that several other people were protected in place within the location, including one employee who had a hole drilled into the store’s bathroom.
Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, 30, was photographed on a Walgreens store surveillance camera on March 31, 2025 (Madera PD)
Fernandez was standing in the car park behind the vehicle, reloading the firearm when officers from the Madera Police Station arrived. Police said the 30-year-old surrendered safely.
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Josiah Arnold told NBC News it was clear to police that Fernandez was planning to continue firing at people.
Investigators have not released any official motives in the shooting, but the gunman said he “issued a statement about getting angry at the pharmacy.” They are looking into whether the recent car accident Fernandez was a factor in the tragic shooting.
Arnold Naka said investigators had not identified any connections Fernandez, who has lived outside Madera for about an hour, had with the store, the victim or other employees.
In a statement, Walgreens is “deeply saddened,” NBC News reported, explaining that Velazquez was a community leader. The company also expressed sadness to Velazquez’s loved ones. He is survived by his wife and two young children.
“We are focused on supporting our employees, which continues to provide on-site counseling services,” the statement added.
Fernandez, who is in custody on $3 million bail, pleaded not guilty to murder charges on April 2, and attempted a murder attempt with an intensive use of a gun in both cases.
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