On Saturday, February 14, 2026, an employee arriving at Daze Elevated, a dispensary located at 8650 North Houston Rosslyn Road near West Little York Road in northwest Houston, made a grim discovery that would initiate a capital murder investigation.
The employee noticed the store’s “open” sign was illuminated, which was unusual since the business was not scheduled to be open, and the owner’s vehicle was not parked in its usual spot out front. Upon entering, the employee found one of the co-owners, identified by family and court records as 44-year-old Fernando Gallardo, lying deceased on the floor in the back of the store from an apparent gunshot wound.
The Houston Police Department responded to the scene and, through an immediate investigation, learned that the victim’s vehicle was missing. Patrol units quickly located the stolen car nearby and conducted a felony stop, taking the driver, 21-year-old Adan Gracia, into custody without incident. Gracia, identified as a dishwasher for Cy-Fair ISD, was positively matched to surveillance footage from inside the store showing a man entering and leaving during the overnight hours. He was subsequently charged with capital murder.
Authorities allege that Gracia entered the store around midnight on Friday, February 13, with the intent to commit robbery and shot and killed Gallardo before stealing his vehicle. Fernando’s brother, Manuel Gallardo, who co-owned the business, later viewed the harrowing surveillance video.
He recounted that the encounter was immediate and violent: “Without giving him an opportunity to turn the corner at the cash register or pull out product — it was immediately shooting.” Manuel described the act as “somebody who decided to inflict pain at 12 o’clock at night. Coming in with the intention of extreme chaos and damage.”
Fernando Gallardo is remembered by his family as a man “larger than life,” a loyal brother, a father to a daughter and two sons, and a visionary who, with his brother Manuel, built Daze Elevated from the ground up after moving from South Texas. Manuel explained that the business was meant to be more than a store; it was a community space where they aimed to give back, a mission that makes his brother’s violent death all the more tragic.
“For this to happen is a tragedy,” Manuel said. “It’s a violent act because that was somebody taking — and we were just trying to give.” The family had already endured another devastating loss in the fall of 2025 when their mother passed away.
A benefit to support Fernando’s three children is scheduled for February 21 at The Zone, located at Bingle and Hammerly. As for the future of Daze Elevated, Manuel expressed a desire for it to continue but admitted his heart is broken, stating, “We spent a lot of time creating this brand, only for someone to take it away.” Gracia’s next court date has been scheduled, and his bond has been referred to the presiding judge as the capital murder case proceeds.