A horrifying scene unfolded in northern Austin, Texas, on Monday when a man opened fire outside a Target store, killing three people — including a four-year-old girl — in what authorities are calling a deliberate and cold-blooded attack.
Police have identified the victims as Adam Chow, 65; his granddaughter, Astrid Fung, 4; and Target employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24. According to investigators, the suspect, 32-year-old Ethan Blaine Nieneker, first targeted Chow in the store’s parking lot before turning his weapon on little Astrid, who was in the back seat of a vehicle. Reports indicate the child was forced to witness her grandfather’s murder moments before she was fatally shot.
Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson described the shooting as “an unthinkable act of violence that has devastated multiple families and shaken our community to its core.” Witnesses said the gunman appeared calm and methodical, showing no sign of hesitation as he carried out the killings.
Machuca, an employee of the Target store, was shot while trying to help or flee during the chaos. Friends and co-workers have since described him as a hardworking and kind young man with a bright future ahead.
After the attack, Nieneker reportedly fled on foot, eventually hiding inside a portable restroom near the scene. Police officers confronted him, and he was subdued with a Taser before being taken into custody. Mugshot photos released by the Austin Police Department show him with visible bruises and swelling to his face.
Authorities are still working to determine a motive. According to court documents, Nieneker had prior encounters with law enforcement but no history of violent felony convictions. Police are investigating whether he had any personal connection to the victims.
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of grief and anger across the city. A memorial of flowers, stuffed animals, and handwritten notes now lines the parking lot outside the Target store. Vigils are being planned in honor of the victims, and community leaders are calling for increased support for the grieving families.
Nieneker remains in custody facing capital murder charges. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
This shocking incident marks one of the most tragic mass shootings in Austin in recent memory, leaving a community struggling to comprehend the senseless loss of innocent lives.