Man, 4-year-old granddaughter among victims

Austin police on Tuesday identified Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24; Adam Chow, 65; and Chow’s 4-year-old granddaughter as the three victims of a shooting Monday afternoon at a Target store in North Austin.

Investigators said the shooter “randomly shot” Machuca, a Target employee, as he collected shopping carts in the parking lot. The suspect then shot Chow, who was in the driver’s seat of a Toyota 4-Runner, and also fired into the back seat, striking Chow’s granddaughter. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Machuca, who was taken to a hospital, was pronounced dead at 3:01 p.m.

“This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. “While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I’ll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence.”

Police on Tuesday identified the suspect as Ethan Nieneker, 32. He was arrested Monday, less than an hour after the shooting and about 20 miles south, according to police. 

Police said Nieneker stole the 4Runner after pushing Chow’s wife — who had removed her granddaughter from the back seat — out of the vehicle. About 2:20 p.m., he pulled over and allegedly assaulted the driver of a water truck before unsuccessfully trying to steal it.

He then returned to the 4Runner, crashing it at 2:25 p.m. into a Volkswagen and driving it onto a third car, according to police. Nieneker assaulted the Volkswagen’s driver, pushed her out and stole the vehicle, police said. He later tried and failed to change vehicles again, this time attempting to hijack a Waymo self-driving car. Police were originally unsure if all these incidents were linked, but later confirmed they were connected through surveillance video and air support. 

At 2:37 p.m., a man who knew Nieneker from Bible study told police that the suspect had “thrown a brick” at his home on La Casa Drive. About 20 minutes later, officers received a report of a naked man walking through a backyard in the 2400 block of La Casa Drive. Nieneker was seen running into a “porta potty,” leaving his clothes inside, which matched the suspect description police had posted on X.

Officers found Nieneker walking naked on Montclaire Street. After he refused commands, they deployed a Taser and arrested him. He was charged with capital murder by terror threat or other felony, capital murder of a person under age 10, and first-degree murder, according to Travis County jail records.

Photos from the scene: 3 killed in shooting at Target parking lot in Austin, Texas

During a media briefing Tuesday, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said Nieneker had a history of mental health issues and had twice previously been placed on emergency holds — a measure taken when individuals are experiencing a mental health crisis that poses a risk to themselves or others.

Nieneker’s criminal record includes arrests for driving while intoxicated, criminal mischief, and violating bond or protective orders. He previously faced multiple domestic assault charges, most recently in 2019, but that case was dismissed when the victim could not be located, records show.

Nieneker lived alone and worked at a nearby restaurant, police said.

Police said they’re unsure if the gun used  — a handgun  — was licensed, but they said it was acquired through family. The gun was recovered by police in the 4Runner. Davis said they are continuing to investigate the weapons origin. 

The Target store remained closed Tuesday and authorities are unsure when it will reopen.

“We are working with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly at the scene,” Target said in a statement. “In the days ahead, we will continue partnering with law enforcement and will be providing support resources, including grief counseling, to our team.”