Suspect in custody after police say drug transaction goes bad leaving 2 dead in Woodward lake area

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Police believe 21-year-old Gary Lee Perry shot and killed those two men. They say Perry and the two victims were conducting a drug transaction in the neighborhood before everything went wrong.

Related: coroner identifies two woodward lake shooting victims

Police say 21-year-old Gary Lee Perry opened fire on his friends, shooting and killing Scott Gaffney and Brennen Fairhead.

Chief Jerry Dyer of the Fresno Police Department said, "We do know that they have known each other for many years."

Police say the three men came together to the Woodward lake area in Northeast Fresno Thursday night and were conducting a drug transaction.

"Perry who was armed with a handgun fired rounds from behind striking Fairhead, who was seated in the driver's seat," Chief Dyer said.

Police say Gaffney exited the vehicle.

"And as he did so, he was also shot in the back by Perry."

Police say Perry ran, but then returned shooting the victims again. Both men were shot multiple times in the chest and died at the scene. Perry meanwhile, took off in Fairhead's car according to police, abandoning it a different location and dumping the firearm in a storm drain.

Officers caught up with Perry Friday afternoon when he was trying to get into Fairhead's home where he was staying.

Just a few hours later friends and family members gathered at the scene the two men died to mourn their loss.

Longtime friend Tristan Edwards says both victims were like brothers to him. He says Brennen was a go-getter. And like police, loved ones are still searching for answers as to why such a tragedy occurred.

Friday night Perry is in the Fresno County Jail. Police say he faces two counts of murder.

They also say there might be a fourth suspect who was involved in that prescription drug transaction.