Anger against pharmacies leads to deadly shooting of Walgreens employee

On Monday night, April 1, 2025, a shooting occurred at a Walgreens store in Madera, California, resulting in the death of a store clerk, Erick Velasquez, aged 34. The suspected gunman, 30-year-old Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, was apprehended by police shortly after the incident. Witnesses reported seeing Fernandez waving a gun and firing multiple shots within the store just before officers arrived. The motivation behind the attack appears to be Fernandez's expressed disdain for pharmacies, although authorities have stated there is no known connection between him and the victim. Following the shooting, Velasquez succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a family that includes two young children. The tragic event has prompted an outpouring of grief from both the community and Walgreens, which expressed its sorrow in a statement and is providing support to affected employees. As investigations continue, the police are looking into the possible reasons for Fernandez's anger, including a potential car accident he was involved in months prior, while also emphasizing that there is no evidence linking the shooting to any organized groups or gangs. This violent event has raised important questions about anger towards the pharmaceutical industry and its impact on individuals, shedding light on broader social issues that can lead to tragic outcomes.