MADERA COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The 30-year-old man who allegedly had traveled over an hour and a half to a Walgreens in Madera, shooting and killing store employee Erick Velasquez , pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder and attempted murder inside Madera County Superior Court.
During his first court appearance on Wednesday, 30-year-old Narciso Gallardo Fernandez appeared to be smiling while the arraignment was underway.
Fernandez’s appearance in court follows the incident on Monday evening when police say they responded to shots fired call inside the Walgreens at 2020 W. Cleveland Avenue.
When officers arrived, they say the suspect, identified as Fernandez, was reloading his handgun in the parking lot. Officers found the shooting victim, Erik Velasquez, in the store suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
‘A lot more scary,’ Madera Walgreens shooting has residents on edge
It was determined by police that Fernandez traveled from Pixley to Madera and entered the store with a handgun in his pocket and then allegedly shot Velasquez.
Investigators revealed that Fernandez may have had ill will against pharmacies…