Police have identified the man accused of killing three people — including a child — during a random shooting spree in a Target parking lot Monday afternoon.
Authorities say Ethan Nieneker, 32, opened fire around 2:15 p.m. at the Target on Research Boulevard in North Austin.
The victims were Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24, a Target employee; Adam Chow, 66; and Chow’s young granddaughter.
“Said He Was Jesus”
Austin Homicide Detective Nathan Sexton described the attack as completely unprovoked.
“He said that he was Jesus and there was no real reason whatsoever given,” Sexton said of the accused gunman, who has both a criminal record and a documented mental health history.
Violent Escape Attempt
After the shooting, police say Nieneker stole a vehicle from the scene but crashed shortly afterward.
He then allegedly hijacked a second vehicle before officers caught up to him in South Austin, where he was subdued with a Taser.
Casualties and Injuries
Two victims — an adult and a child — died at the scene. The third victim died later at a hospital. A fourth person was treated at the scene for unrelated injuries.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis confirmed the shooting was random and that Nieneker used a gun obtained from a family member.
