Walgreens Employee SHOT DEAD – INNOCENT! 

California father of two gunned down at Walgreens by a man claiming to have a “grudge against pharmacies” – in a senseless murder that underscores the alarming vulnerability of retail workers even in America’s peaceful communities.

At a Glance

  • Erik Velazquez, a Walgreens employee and father of two young children, was shot and killed by suspect Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, who allegedly targeted the store due to a “grudge against pharmacies”
  • Fernandez was captured on surveillance footage waving a gun and shooting the camera off the wall before firing at least five shots, killing Velazquez who was on the phone with 911 during the attack
  • Police arrived to find Fernandez reloading his handgun in the parking lot, where he was apprehended
  • Investigators confirmed there was no prior relationship between the victim and gunman, with Fernandez reportedly telling some victims “this isn’t about you”
  • The community has rallied around Velazquez’s family through a GoFundMe campaign while Walgreens is providing counseling services for employees

Another Senseless Murder in California

Just when you think California couldn’t get any more dangerous with its soft-on-crime policies, now we have deranged individuals walking into retail stores and executing innocent employees over vague “grudges.” This horrific incident in Madera reveals the terrifying vulnerability of everyday Americans just trying to earn a living. Erik Velazquez, remembered for his “big bright smile,” leaves behind two young children who will grow up without their father because our society continues to fail at keeping dangerous individuals off the streets. While California politicians remain fixated on restricting the gun rights of law-abiding citizens, they seem utterly incapable of preventing these barbaric acts of violence.

What’s particularly chilling about this case is that the suspected killer, Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, allegedly harbored some kind of vendetta against “large-scale pharmacies” – as if that somehow justifies walking into a Walgreens and opening fire. The surveillance footage reportedly shows Fernandez waving a gun around before shooting a security camera off the wall – the actions of someone clearly intent on carrying out pre-meditated violence. And where were the armed security guards that might have stopped this attack? Nowhere to be found, of course, because California businesses are too busy putting up “gun-free zone” signs that only disarm potential defenders.

Police Response and Arrest

In what appears to be one of the few examples of effective law enforcement in California these days, Madera police did manage to apprehend Fernandez in the parking lot while he was actually reloading his weapon. The fact that they arrived before he could continue his rampage is the lone silver lining in this tragedy. During the terrifying moments of the attack, Velazquez bravely called 911, with dispatchers reporting they could hear the gunshots in real-time over the phone. This poor man’s final moments were spent trying to get help, only to be gunned down by a killer who reportedly told some victims that “this isn’t about you” – as if that makes his actions any less reprehensible. 

“When they arrived, they found Narciso outside, the suspect, who was reloading his handgun at his vehicle”, says Madera Police Chief Gino Chiaramonte.  

Madera Police Chief Gino Chiaramonte confirmed what many suspected – that this was not a targeted attack on Velazquez personally, but rather some kind of deranged statement against pharmacies. “There is no relation between Narciso and Erik Velazquez,” Chiaramonte stated, which only makes this tragedy more senseless. Fernandez is being held at Madera County jail and is expected to face murder charges. District Attorney Sally Moreno is preparing the case, and we can only hope that unlike in so many other California cases, this killer will actually face the full weight of justice rather than being back on the streets in a few years due to some “progressive” early release program. 

The Aftermath and Community Response

While the corporate PR machine at Walgreens dutifully issued their “thoughts and prayers” statement and offered counseling services to employees, the real burden falls on Velazquez’s devastated family. This hardworking father of two young children had his life stolen for absolutely no reason, and now his community is trying to support his family through a GoFundMe campaign. This is what America has come to – decent people having to pass around a digital collection plate to support the families of those murdered in what should be safe retail environments. Meanwhile, Walgreens and other large chains across the country continue to operate with minimal security, leaving their employees as sitting ducks for the next unhinged attacker. 

“We do know he has a disdain or grudge against pharmacies, or large-scale pharmacies by statements made… that is one of the reasons why Walgreens was selected”, states Madera Police Chief Gino Chiaramonte.

The vague explanations about Fernandez’s “grudge against pharmacies” raise more questions than answers. Police Chief Chiaramonte admitted they’re “having difficulties because some of the statements show that he had anger towards pharmacies in general, not specifically Walgreens.” What exactly does that mean? Was he denied medication? Did he have some conspiracy theory about pharmaceutical companies? Or is this just another case of profound mental illness left untreated because California has systematically dismantled its mental health infrastructure while simultaneously making it nearly impossible to involuntarily commit dangerous individuals? The answers may come during trial, but for Velazquez’s family, no explanation will ever be sufficient.

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