A routine afternoon at a north Austin Target descended into tragedy on Monday, August 11, when a man opened fire in the parking lot, killing three people and injuring one before embarking on a destructive spree across the city.
Police arrested the suspect, who claimed to be a religious figure, after a series of chaotic encounters with drivers and pedestrians.
Austin Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker. The victims included Target employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24; 65-year-old Adam Chow; and Chow’s 4-year-old granddaughter, Astrid Fung. Doris Chow, Adam’s wife, was also injured but is expected to recover, per ABC News.
According to police, the violence began around 2:15 p.m. outside the Target on Research Boulevard, when Nieneker shot Machuca as he collected shopping carts. He then ran toward a black Jeep Cherokee and fired at the driver before approaching a parked Toyota 4Runner, where Adam Chow was sitting in the driver’s seat with his wife and granddaughter inside.
Nieneker shot Chow and Fung, killing them both. Doris Chow pulled her granddaughter from the vehicle, but Nieneker shoved her aside and sped away in the 4Runner. Chow and Fung were pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterward.
What followed was a chaotic citywide rampage. Police say Nieneker drove across Austin, crashing into multiple vehicles, assaulting drivers, and attempting carjackings. Around 2:20 p.m., he allegedly forced a construction worker from a water truck on Mopac Expressway before abandoning it and returning to the stolen SUV. Minutes later, he collided with a Volkswagen and an Infiniti SUV, assaulted the Volkswagen’s female driver, and stole her car.
Witness Chris Ferran described the terrifying scene to KGNS News. “I was driving on the highway when the SUV smashed into two vehicles and kept going. I chased him down and called 911,” Ferran said. “Then I saw him pull a worker from a truck while armed. I threw the phone down and reversed to get my daughters out of there.”
Nieneker’s spree continued with failed break-ins and property damage. Around 2:37 p.m., he reportedly threw a brick through the window of a Bible study acquaintance’s home. Officers finally apprehended him at 3:06 p.m. on Montclaire Street, where he was found walking naked in a residential area. After ignoring commands, police subdued him with a Taser.
Police Chief Lisa Davis called the shootings an “unprovoked and deliberate attack” on “innocent lives in broad daylight.”
Nieneker, who lived alone and worked at a restaurant, has a long criminal history spanning more than a decade, including domestic violence, assault, driving offenses, and drug charges. Several charges were dismissed over the years, while others led to brief jail sentences.
Sgt. Nathan Sexton said Nieneker offered no clear motive, claiming only that he was Jesus. “It was a completely random choosing of the victims,” he said.
The victims’ loved ones have spoken publicly about their grief. The Chow family described Adam as the “heart and steady backbone” of their lives and Astrid as “pure silliness and joy,” adding, “We are broken and miss them both so much.” Target employees and community members have also mourned Machuca, remembering him as dedicated and kind-hearted.
The investigation into the incident and Nieneker’s motives continues, as authorities seek to understand what drove the day’s devastating events.