Shots rang out on Good Friday at the Terrible Herbst convenience store and gas station on Sunset Road at Annie Oakley Drive in Henderson, Nevada.
Henderson police officers responded to reports of shots fired at 9:50 a.m.
Employees reported fleeing to nearby businesses for shelter and medical assistance. "We all ran in a bunch, and when we got across the street, and that's when we noticed he was bleeding," an employee told 13 Action News.
The employee reported helping a lube shop worker get to safety after being shot in the arm. They fled to a medical supplies store down the road, where workers were able to stop the victim's bleeding.
Two victims were reported in critical condition, and one later died from his wounds. According to FOX5 News, the victim was 18-year-old Zachary Ragusa. His family said he worked at Terrible Herbst as a smog check technician.
The suspect is 22-year-old Rafael Valdez, a Terrible Herbst employee. He ran off after shooting his coworkers and was captured without incident shortly after.
Another employee of the gas station, who asked to remain anonymous, told FOX 5 she was very close with the suspect and was friends with the victims. She still does not believe Valdez could do something like this.
"I called. I had to make sure my fellow cashiers were OK. I had to make sure my manager was OK," she cried. "This doesn't make any sense. He's not like that. He listens. He cares. There's no way... My mind is blank. It's just not processing yet."
Valdez was booked on one count of murder with a deadly weapon, two counts of attempted murder and three counts of attempted robbery – all felony charges.
Terrible Herbst released the following statement:
“Terrible Herbst is cooperating fully as the Henderson Police Department investigates this matter. We are grateful they responded so quickly. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to our employees and their families who are impacted by this incident. We have provided and will continue to provide counseling services to our Terrible Herbst family.”