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Insets: Narciso Fernandez and victim Erick Velazquez (KFSN/YouTube). Background: Security footage allegedly showing Narciso Fernandez shooting a surveillance camera out at a Walgreens in Madera, Cali., on March 31, 2025 (KFSN/YouTube).
A man in California with a “grudge against pharmacies” shot and killed a Walgreens employee this week, with security footage showing him waving at a surveillance camera with his gun afterward — and then blasting it out moments later, cops say.
Narciso Fernandez, 30, is facing a felony charge of murder for the Monday night slaying at a Walgreens in the Central Valley city of Madera, according to local police. The victim was described in a press release as being an employee who was shot inside of the store, which is in the 2000 block of West Cleveland Avenue. Fernandez reportedly stayed on scene and surrendered to police, with authorities saying he allegedly confessed to killing Erick Velazquez, a 34-year-old father of two from the area, on account of his hatred for pharmacies.
“Some of the statements show that he had anger towards pharmacies in general, not specific Walgreens,” Madera Police Chief Giachino Chiaramonte told local Fox affiliate KMPH. Speaking to the local ABC affiliate KFSN, the chief said that Fernandez “has a general disdain or grudge against pharmacies, large-scale pharmacies.”
Police officials believe that while Fernandez had negative feelings toward big pharma, the shooting at the Walgreens was an “isolated incident” and there were no other previous threats to the public or things done by him in the area.
“He has no prior contacts with the sheriff’s department or PD here,” Chiaramonte told KMPH. “He has no ties to Madera.”
According to police, Fernandez showed up to the Walgreens at around 9:35 p.m. Monday and he shot Velazquez after walking inside. “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 told KMPH of the alleged aftermath. Describing Velazquez, the chief said he had no connection whatsoever to Fernandez and was just trying to work.
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“He’s got a wife,” Chiaramonte said. “He’s got two children — one an infant — and they’re trying to understand why.”
Police told KFSN that when Fernandez arrived at the Walgreens on Monday night, its pharmacy wasn’t even open and there were no pharmacists on the premises.
“We are deeply saddened by last night’s tragic event, which resulted in the death of one of our team members,” Walgreens said in a statement. “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.”
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