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THE man accused of shooting three people dead, including a child, outside of a Target made a disturbing comment about Jesus after the sick crimes.
Ethan Blaine Nieneker, aged 32, appeared distressed in a mugshot covered in blood following accusations of him allegedly opening fire on a crowd in a Austin, Texas supermarket parking lot on Monday.
According to police reports, Nieneker indiscriminately shot Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, a 24-year-old employee of Target, before proceeding to attack Adam Chow, 65, and his 4-year-old granddaughter, eventually taking their car after fatally shooting them.
The Austin Police Department disclosed the victims’ identities a day subsequent to the incident and discussed the suspect’s bizarre rants and lack of logical motive.
During a briefing, homicide detective Nathan Sexton informed reporters that Nieneker claimed he was Jesus and failed to provide any rational explanation for his actions.
“It was a completely random choosing of the victims.”
Cops arrived at the scene at 2:23 pm and found the worker suffering from gunshot wounds, the Austin Police Department said.
He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but couldn’t be saved.
Chow and the little girl were declared dead at the scene, and Chow’s wife had minor injuries.
Authorities indicated that Nieneker commenced firing at Machuca in the parking area around 2:15 pm and continued shooting at a Jeep attempting to escape.
Allegedly, the suspect then approached a Toyota 4-Runner, shot Chow who occupied the front seat, and fired at the young girl seated in the back.
Chow’s wife grabbed her granddaughter before they were shoved out by Neineker, who stole the car and zoomed away, cops said.
Around five minutes after the shooting started, the suspect stopped beside a water truck that was parked on the side of a road and allegedly beat the driver and pulled him from the front seat.
Cops said that Nieneker tried to put the car in drive, but couldn’t, so he went back to the 4-Runner and drove away.
He allegedly wrecked that car about five minutes later and then ran to a nearby Volkswagen dealership, where he carjacked another woman and left in her vehicle.
Less than ten minutes after this, Nieneker tried to get into a Waymo self-driving car, but that didn’t work, so he got back on the road.
A few minutes later, a friend who knew the suspect told cops that Neineker threw a brick through his residence.
The suspect continually zoomed through the center of the city with cops on his trail before someone reported seeing a naked man in their backyard.
Officials raced to the area and found Nieneker naked on the street. When he didn’t follow their directions, they tased him and put him in cuffs.
Cops later found his clothes in a nearby porta-potty.
Nieneker was booked on Tuesday and looked battered and bruised in a mugshot taken by the local police department.
Austin Police Department’s full statement on shooting
“On Monday, August 11, 2025, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to calls of multiple shootings at the Target parking lot at 8601 Research Boulevard northbound. Officers arrived to find a male, later identified as Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, in the parking lot. Mr. Martinez Machuca was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased at 3:01 p.m. Officers also located a family including Adam Chow, his wife, and their 4-year-old granddaughter. Adam Chow and his 4-year-old granddaughter were pronounced deceased on scene. Mr. Chow’s wife sustained minor injuries.
Homicides Detectives and Crime Scene Specialists responded to process the scene and interview witnesses. The investigation showed Ethan Nieneker randomly attacked a Target employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca in the parking lot, shooting and killing him as he was collecting shopping carts. Nieneker then ran to a black Jeep Cherokee and began firing as the Jeep attempted to evade the gunfire. Nieneker then ran up to a gray Toyota 4-Runner where he shot Mr. Chow as he sat in the driver seat. He then fired into the backseat, striking the 4-year-old granddaughter. Mr. Chow’s wife carried their granddaughter from the vehicle and Nieneker pushed her from the vehicle. Nieneker then drove the Toyota from the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Mr. Chow and the 4-year-old granddaughter were pronounced deceased on scene at 2:39 and 2:50 p.m.
At approximately 2:20 p.m. Nieneker found a water truck parked alongside the 7800 block of Mopac Expressway. He opened the driver’s door and repeatedly assaulted the driver before pushing him out of the vehicle. He attempted to put the truck into drive but was unable to. He then jumped out of the truck and chased a male with a pistol in his hand before running back to the stolen 4-Runner and drove off.
At approximately 2:25 p.m., APD received the call of a multiple-vehicle crash as the stolen 4-Runner crashed into a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV. Nieneker exited the vehicle and went over to the Volkswagen, opened the door and repeatedly assaulted the female driver of the Volkswagen. He pushed the female driver of the Volkswagen out and then drove off.
At 2:34 p.m., a suspect matching Nieneker’s description exited the stolen Volkswagen and went up to a Waymo vehicle and attempted to break into it. This failed and Nieneker returned to the stolen Volkswagen and drove away.
At 2:37 p.m., an acquaintance known to Nieneker through bible study reported that Nieneker had thrown a brick through his residence in the 2100 block of La Casa Drive.
At 2:58 p.m., APD received the call of a naked male walking through a backyard in the 2400 block of La Casa Drive. Nieneker was observed running into a “porta potty” and then leaving on foot. Officers located Nieneker walking naked on Montclaire Street. Nieneker was issued commands, did not comply, was tased and taken into custody at 3:06 p.m. Officers checked the area, and the matching suspect clothing previously captured surveillance was located inside of the “porta potty”.
The investigation shows that Nieneker conducted these violent offenses of shooting at multiple victims, killing three victims, and destroying multiple vehicles, in the span of less than one hour.
Nieneker has been charged with two counts of Capital Murder for the 4-year-old granddaughter and for Adam Chow. He has also been charged for the First-Degree Felony Murder of Mr. Martinez Machuca.
Detectives are encouraging anyone who may have photos, videos, or potential evidence, please submit them by clicking here or scanning the QR code below.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling (512) 472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.
This case is being investigated as Austin’s 39th, 40th and 41st homicide of 2025.“
DISTURBING HISTORY
Davis said that they knew Nieneker and revealed he had a history of mental health issues.
The suspect has an extensive criminal history starting in 2012 when he was arrested and convicted for misdemeanor marijuana possession, ABC affiliate KVUE reported.
In 2015, he was arrested for misdemeanor DWI, felony criminal mischief, and assaulting a family member.
The following year, Nieneker was arrested and convicted of a felony charge for assaulting his girlfriend. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail and probation for that charge.
Also in 2016, he was accused of criminal mischief, but the charge was later dismissed.
Later that year, he was arrested and convicted of a felony charge for violating a bond or protective order.
In 2017, Nieneker pleaded guilty to a DWI charge and spent 30 days in jail.
He was accused of attacking his roommate in 2019, but the case was later dismissed.
In a Facebook account that appears to belong to Nieneker, the suspect wrote about getting a job as a bartender in 2020.
That same year, he penned several posts complaining about people sharing their political opinions.
After Tuesday’s shooting, Davis said, “This is a very sad day for Austin. It’s a very sad day for us all.”
“Our thoughts are with the families,” she added.
“This is a tragic time, our thoughts are with the officers, and EMS, and fire that had to come and do the work here at the scene, forensics, everyone that’s doing the scene.”
Nieneker has been charged with two counts of capital murder for allegedly killing the little girl and Chow.
He was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Machuca, meaning the killing was deliberate and planned, according to cops.
