The victims of what police call a random shooting at a Texas Target have been identified as a grandfather with his four-year-old granddaughter and a store worker, according to authorities.
The deadly shooting unfolded Monday afternoon at a Target in North Austin during the back-to-school shopping season. Austin police identified the suspected shooter as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker on Tuesday and shared his bloodied and bruised face in a mugshot after his arrest.
Police said Tuesday afternoon the shooting, which started around 2:15 p.m. local time Monday, was random.
Nieneker fatally shot Target employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24, while he was collecting shopping carts, local CBS affiliate KEYE reported.
Nieneker then ran to a Jeep Cherokee, firing bullets at it as the car attempted to escape, according to authorities.
He went after a Toyota 4Runner next, striking Adam Chow, 65, who was in the driver’s seat, and his young granddaughter, who was in the backseat, police say.
The four-year-old’s grandmother, who had minor injuries, carried her from the car, but it was too late. Chow and his granddaughter died at the scene. The store worker was transported for treatment and later died at the hospital.
After the shooting, Nieneker stole the Toyota and drove to the Mopac Expressway in Austin, police say.
The suspected shooter then assaulted a water truck driver in an attempt to steal his vehicle, according to authorities. Shortly after, he crashed the Toyota into multiple cars, assaulted a woman and stole her Volkswagen, police say.
After Nieneker unsuccessfully tried to break into a self-driving Waymo car and threw a brick through the home of someone he knew, police found him walking around naked, according to authorities.
He was taken into police custody in South Austin after an officer shot him with a stun gun. It had been less than an hour from the time the shooting started to the time Nieneker was arrested.
“This is a very sad day for Austin,” Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said Monday afternoon. “This is a very sad day for us all.”
Amid the chaotic shooting, Target shoppers were evacuated by police to a nearby PetSmart, and officials warned the public to stay away from the area.
Cars in the Target parking lot were temporarily held as police investigated. As of 10 p.m. local time Monday, people whose cars were left in the parking lot were allowed to pick them up.
Who is Ethan Nieneker?
Chief Davis said the suspected shooter had a “mental health history” and a past “rap sheet” with Austin police.
What is his criminal history?
KEYE reported, citing records, that Nieneker had at least six previous charges in Travis County and five more in nearby Williamson County.
His rap sheet includes several assaults causing bodily injury in family violence cases, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated and violating a protective order, per KEYE.
The local outlet noted some of his previous charges resulted in jail time, while others were dismissed.
The Austin American-Statesman reported his most recent domestic assault charge from 2019 was dismissed after the victim could not be located, according to records.
What is his mental health history?
Nieneker had also previously been placed on emergency holds, per the Austin American-Statesman.
An emergency hold is an involuntary detention of a person in a mental health crisis who poses a risk to themselves or others.
What was his motive?
The motive for the shooting is still unclear.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson wrote on X Monday evening, “This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families.
“While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I’ll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence.”
Where is he today?
Nieneker was booked into Travis County Jail on charges of capital murder by terror threat, capital murder of a person under 10 years of age and first-degree murder, according to multiple local outlets, which cited official records.
What has Target said about the shooting?
"We are devastated by the violence that occurred today at our store in Austin, Texas,” Target said in a statement shared with several outlets.
The retailer added: “Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin and all those impacted by this tragedy. We are working with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly at the scene.
“In the days ahead, we will continue partnering with law enforcement and will be providing support resources, including grief counseling, to our team.”
