A routine afternoon at a north Austin Target turned tragic on Monday, August 11, when a man opened fire in the parking lot, killing three people and injuring one before going on a destructive spree across the city.
Austin Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker, who claimed to be a religious figure. 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 injured but is expected to recover.
The violence began around 2:15 p.m. outside Target on Research Boulevard. Nieneker shot Machuca while he collected shopping carts, then fired at a Jeep driver before approaching a parked Toyota 4Runner with Adam, Doris, and Astrid inside. Adam and Astrid were killed; Doris pulled her granddaughter from the vehicle but was shoved aside as Nieneker sped away in the SUV.
What followed was a chaotic citywide rampage. Nieneker crashed into multiple vehicles, assaulted drivers, and attempted carjackings. Witnesses described him forcing a construction worker from a truck on Mopac Expressway and stealing additional vehicles before throwing a brick through the window of an acquaintance’s home. Officers apprehended him at 3:06 p.m., finding him walking naked in a residential area and subduing him with a Taser after he ignored commands.
Police Chief Lisa Davis called the shootings an “unprovoked and deliberate attack” on innocent lives. Nieneker, who lived alone and worked at a restaurant, has a criminal history spanning over a decade, including assault, domestic violence, driving offenses, and drug charges. He offered no clear motive beyond claiming he was Jesus.
The victims’ families mourn the loss of loved ones, remembering Adam as the family’s steady backbone, Astrid as joyful, and Machuca as kind-hearted and dedicated. Authorities continue investigating Nieneker’s actions and motives.
