Hanford police say the suspect, Jermain Nortarte, walked into the BIG 5 Sporting Goods store on Lacey Boulevard and asked to see ammunition for a .22 caliber long rifle.
When the store clerk took out a box of bullets, Nortarte started loading them into a semi-automatic handgun. Officials say the employee tried to stop Nortarte, but he ran out of the store.
Shortly after, police received several reports of a man firing shots near an alleyway in downtown Hanford, off Irwin Street.
Officers found Nartarte with the loaded gun and arrested him. No one was injured.
Investigators say Notarte is a convicted felon. He was booked into the Kings County Jail and faces charges, including two counts of attempted murder.