A shooting incident at a North Austin Target on August 11 led to the deaths of three individuals and has recently prompted further revelations regarding the suspect, Ethan Nieneker.
Court documents have surfaced detailing the charges against Nieneker, who is accused of shooting and killing three people in the parking lot of the Target store located on Research Boulevard.
Among the charges, Nieneker faces an aggravated robbery charge linked to the carjacking of Adam Chow, one of the victims of the shooting. Nieneker also faces an attempted murder charge for firing at another vehicle in the parking lot, which managed to escape the chaos.
Following the shooting, Nieneker fled the scene in Chow’s Toyota 4Runner and attempted several more vehicle thefts.
Four additional aggravated assault charges against Nieneker relate to an incident where he allegedly pointed a gun at two construction workers and assaulted one while trying to steal a water truck. Furthermore, Nieneker faces a separate robbery charge for allegedly assaulting a woman and stealing her Volkswagen.
In total, Ethan Nieneker is charged with multiple offenses including aggravated robbery, attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, robbery, capital murder by terror threat, capital murder of a person under 10 years of age, and first-degree murder.
The timeline of events began around 2:15 p.m. on August 11 when Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to reports of multiple shots fired at the Target parking lot.
Upon arrival, officers found 24-year-old Rosa Machuca, an employee of Target, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
They also discovered 65-year-old Adam Chow and his 4-year-old granddaughter; Chow and his granddaughter died at the scene while Chow’s wife suffered minor injuries.
According to police, Nieneker randomly attacked Machuca while she was collecting shopping carts in the parking lot, resulting in her death.
Following this, Nieneker allegedly opened fire on a black Jeep Cherokee as its driver attempted to escape after witnessing the shooting of Machuca.
The Jeep’s driver stated they reversed out of their parking spot after seeing Machuca shot, but ultimately crashed their vehicle while trying to flee and fled on foot, later seeking refuge in a nearby barbershop.
Nieneker then approached a gray Toyota 4-Runner where he shot Chow while he was sitting inside and also struck Chow’s granddaughter who was in the backseat.
After Chow’s wife managed to pull her granddaughter from the car, Nieneker is reported to have pushed her aside to drive off quickly in the stolen Toyota.
In the chaotic aftermath, around 2:20 p.m., Nieneker located a water truck parked at a construction site on the MoPac Expressway.
Court documents reveal that Nieneker assaulted the driver of the water truck by punching him in the head and attempting to steal the vehicle before fleeing after being unable to drive it.
Both construction workers at the site fled the area to avoid Nieneker, who confronted them with a firearm.
Video footage from the water truck revealed the altercation and subsequent events as Nieneker drove away from the site.
Approximately five minutes later, APD received calls referencing a multi-vehicle collision involving the stolen 4-Runner. The vehicle had collided with a Volkswagen and landed on top of an Infiniti SUV.
Witnesses indicated that Nieneker exited the Toyota, approached the driver of the Volkswagen, and assaulted him before forcefully removing him from the vehicle and driving off.
At 2:34 p.m., an individual matching Nieneker’s description attempted to break into a Waymo vehicle at the intersection of Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard, but he was unsuccessful.
Instead, he got back into the Volkswagen and fled the scene.
Shortly after, police received reports of Nieneker throwing a brick through the window of an acquaintance’s home on La Casa Drive.
He later explained to APD that the home belonged to a friend and that he had broken the window because he was not allowed inside.
Before 3 p.m., authorities received a call regarding a naked man spotted walking through a backyard in close proximity to the aforementioned residence.
Reports indicated that Nieneker had been seen running into a portable toilet prior to departing the area on foot.
By 3:06 p.m., officers located Nieneker walking naked on Montclaire Street. When he failed to comply with police commands, a Taser was deployed, leading to his arrest.
Nieneker was subsequently transported to South Austin Hospital, where he was placed under arrest.
Investigators discovered a change of clothes, including button-up shirts, a satchel, and multicolored shorts, inside the portable toilet, which matched descriptions from surveillance footage taken during the incidents.
While at the hospital, Nieneker allegedly confessed to the police about his involvement in the shooting, claiming he was Jesus. He stated, “I killed a man and a baby girl today. In Target, in the Target parking lot. I shot them both because I’m Jesus.”
APD Chief Davis later noted that Nieneker has a documented history of mental illness, contributing to the complexity of the case.
On August 15, APD sought to identify the driver of a white minivan involved in a crash with Nieneker during the chaotic events of the shooting. By August 22, authorities confirmed that the occupants of the minivan had been identified and found to have sustained only minor injuries during the incident.
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