One Phamatech employee was in critical condition and another in police custody following a workplace shooting in Carmel Mountain Ranch on Tuesday afternoon, according to San Diego Police Lt. Charles Lara.

A 911 call was received at 1:44 p.m. with the caller reporting an assault with a deadly weapon, Lara said during a press conference shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The suspect is Julio Riel Narvaez III, 54. He is scheduled to be arraigned on a charge of attempted murder at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Narvaez reportedly shot a male coworker in the head, firing a small caliber handgun possibly twice, Lara said. Other employees at the business were able to subdue him near the HR department and by the time police arrived had Narvaez on the ground and zip-tied, he said.

“They took really quick … decisive action,” Lara said, adding that while police never recommend people take matters into their own hands, “we are grateful he was subdued.”

Lara said the unidentified victim was in critical condition, but lucid and talking when taken via ambulance from the scene to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.

“It appears to be workplace violence, interpersonal conduct,” Lara said. Both individuals involved are Phamatech employees, but Lara could not say if Narvaez’s employment status had changed shortly before the incident. The motive is not yet known and police are still investigating the situation.

Phamatech, located at 15175 Innovation Drive in Carmel Mountain Ranch, “is a global manufacturer of rapid diagnostic devices and provider of laboratory testing for medication monitoring, illicit drugs, alcohol and … Pharmacogenetic testing,” according to its website. It also manufactures its own on-site testing products.





UPDATES:

11 a.m. Wednesday: This article was updated with additional details about the suspect.