Suspect and 3 Victims Identified in Deadly Target Shooting in Austin, Texas – Details

An afternoon of routine errands at a north Austin Target on Monday, August 11, 2025, was shattered by sudden violence, triggering a deadly spree that ended with the arrest of a man with a long history of run-ins with the law. In the aftermath, loved ones and acquaintances are honoring the victims’ lives.

The Austin Police Department (APD) has identified the suspect as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker, who claimed to be a religious figure after his arrest.

The victims were Target employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24; Adam Chow, 65; and Chow’s 4-year-old granddaughter, identified by family as Astrid Fung. Chow’s wife, Doris, sustained minor injuries and is expected to recover.

A 4-year-old girl, her grandfather and a Target employee have been identified as the victims killed in a shooting outside of a Target store in Austin. https://t.co/HzaCu5hIZ5 pic.twitter.com/f5Tev6wALA

— ABC30 Fresno (@ABC30) August 13, 2025

According to the police investigation, the violence began around 2:15 p.m. when Nieneker shot Machuca as the employee collected shopping carts outside the Target at 8601 Research Boulevard Northbound. He then ran toward a black Jeep Cherokee and opened fire as the driver tried to escape.

Police say Nieneker then approached the Chows’ parked Toyota 4Runner, shot Chow in the driver’s seat, and his granddaughter in the back seat.

Chow’s wife, who was also in the vehicle, carried the child out before Nieneker pushed her aside and drove away in the Toyota at high speed. Chow and Fung were pronounced dead at the scene at 2:39 p.m. and 2:50 p.m., respectively.

After his shooting spree at the parking lot, Nieneker allegedly drove across the city, crashing into vehicles, attempting carjackings, and assaulting drivers.

At 2:20 p.m., he reportedly forced a construction worker from a water truck on Mopac Expressway before abandoning the truck and returning to the stolen SUV.

Witness Chris Ferran told KGNS News he was driving on the highway when the suspect’s SUV sped past him, smashed into two vehicles, and continued on. “I’m not letting anybody get away with this, so I chased him down and called 911,” Ferran said, noting his two daughters were in the car.

He later saw the driver pull a worker from the water truck and realized the man was armed. “As soon as I saw that, I threw the phone down and I reversed and I was trying to get us out of there,” Ferran added.

At 2:25 p.m., police received reports of a multiple-vehicle crash involving the stolen SUV, which collided with a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV.

Nieneker got out, went to the Volkswagen, opened the door, and repeatedly assaulted the female driver before pushing her out and driving away in her vehicle.

Around 2:34 p.m., a man matching the suspect’s description left the stolen Volkswagen and attempted to break into a Waymo vehicle. When that failed, he returned to the Volkswagen and drove off.

Three minutes later, at about 2:37 p.m., an acquaintance who knew Nieneker through Bible study reported that the suspect had thrown a brick through the window of his home on La Casa Drive.

At 3:06 p.m., officers arrested Nieneker on Montclaire Street after spotting him walking naked in a residential area. Moments earlier, he had been seen entering and leaving a portable toilet.

Surveillance footage later showed clothing inside that matched what the suspect wore earlier in the spree. Police say he ignored commands, and officers used a Taser to take him into custody.

As reported by ABC News, Police Chief Lisa Davis called the shootings an “unprovoked and deliberate attack” on “innocent lives” in broad daylight. She said Nieneker, who worked at a restaurant and lived alone, had a history with the APD.

Court and jail records show Nieneker’s criminal history spans more than a decade in two counties. In Travis County, his arrests include misdemeanors for criminal mischief and driving while intoxicated (DWI), along with three felony domestic violence charges.

Nieneke was convicted in 2016 of assault causing bodily injury family violence and served a brief jail sentence. Another charge from that same year was dismissed, and a 2019 felony assault on a family or household member was dismissed after prosecutors could not locate the victim.

In Williamson County, records show a 2012 conviction for marijuana possession, two misdemeanor family violence cases from 2015 that were later dismissed, and a 2016 no contest plea to criminal mischief.

Amid details of his criminal record, Davis did not elaborate on Nieneker’s mental health but said he had “some serious issues.” She emphasized, “There were some serious failures here.”

When asked if the suspect gave a motive, Sergeant Nathan Sexton said, “He said that he was Jesus and there was really no reason whatsoever given. It was a completely random choosing of the victims.”

The victims’ loved ones, colleagues, and a retail spokesperson have spoken about the tragedy. In a statement to ABC News, the Chow family remembered their grandfather as the “heart and steady backbone” of their lives, while Fung was “pure silliness and joy.” They added, “We are broken and miss them both so much.”

A GoFundMe campaign described Fung as an affectionate child who brought light to everyone around her and was deeply valued by her family, teachers, classmates, friends, and all who knew her.

It also noted that her grandfather devoted his life to his faith and to caring for others. As of this writing, the fundraiser for funeral and memorial expenses has collected $49,663.

Meanwhile, Machuca’s childhood friend and neighbor, Raevin Canales, posted on Facebook that he had known him for more than 15 years as a classmate and friend, writing that his heart hurts personally for his mother and sisters and offering condolences to all the victims’ families.

As the community continues to mourn, Target — where Machuca worked — released a statement expressing its condolences. “Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin and all those impacted by this tragedy,” a representative said.

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

Nieneker is charged with two counts of capital murder for the deaths of Fung and Chow and one count of first-degree felony murder for the death of Machuca.

Two weeks earlier, another city had been shaken by gun violence — this time in NewYork. Four people, including a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer, were killed in a mass shooting on Monday evening, July 28, in Midtown Manhattan.

The shooter has been identified as Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old man from Las Vegas, Nevada. He was born in Hawaii and later moved to Las Vegas.

Tamura held a concealed carry permit for a handgun and had an expired private investigator license in Nevada. He also reportedly had a history of mental health issues.

“We are working to understand why he targeted this particular location,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. Investigators say the motive remains unclear.

Tamura was found dead inside the building from what police believe was a self-inflicted injury. Authorities have confirmed he acted alone. Surveillance footage shows him exiting a vehicle by himself before entering the building.

The victims included an off-duty NYPD officer who was working as a security guard in the building. He was shot in the back and killed.

The officer was later identified as Didarul Islam of the 47th Precinct of the New York Police Department. Islam, who immigrated from Bangladesh, was married with two young children. His wife is also pregnant with their third child.

Aside from the officer, two men and a woman were also killed, while another man remains in critical condition. There is not much information revealed to the public about the civilian victims.

However, according to sources, one of the victims may have worked in the accounting department for one of the companies in the building. The building houses corporate offices for the accounting firm KPMG, the National Football League, and Blackstone.

While Tamura attacked several people, he made an exception for one woman. After he reportedly called for an elevator, a woman turned out to be inside. Ultimately, he allowed her to exit and walk past him unharmed.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers responded to the scene within minutes. The FBI also arrived to assist, according to Deputy Director Dan Bongino. Workers were asked to evacuate the building swiftly until officers cleared the threat.

The NYPD Special Operations Division later conducted a secondary sweep of the building. Authorities have since confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public and that the gunman acted alone.

The shooting occurred at 345 Park Avenue, a skyscraper in a busy section of Midtown Manhattan, just blocks from Grand Central Terminal and the Museum of Modern Art.

The incident has prompted reactions from several New York officials. Mayor Eric Adams has been on top of the situation, speaking about the slain NYPD officer and his noble work for the city.

“The officer was a three-and-a-half year veteran of the department,” he said. “He loved this city and everyone we spoke with stated he was a person of faith and a person that believed in God and believed in living out the life of a godly person.”

Representative Nicole Malliotakis stated, “We are heartbroken to learn that five individuals including an NYPD officer were murdered tonight by a madman in Manhattan. As we wait to learn more information about this horrific attack, we join our fellow New Yorkers in praying for a speedy recovery for those critically injured.”

Congressman Nick LaLota took to X and posted, “God Bless the NYPD.” Representative Claudia Tenney also released a statement that read:

“My team is actively monitoring the tragic shooting that occurred this evening in Midtown Manhattan. I’m incredibly grateful for the NYPD’s swift response and the bravery of all law enforcement officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. My prayers are with the officer and civilians impacted in this horrific attack.”

KPMG also released a statement on what transpired in their office building. “Our hearts go out to the victims of this horrific act and their families. We are incredibly grateful for the bravery of building security and law enforcement,” the statement said.