Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca Obituary, Death; – The individuals affected by what law enforcement refers to as a random shooting at a Target store in Texas have been confirmed as a grandfather accompanied by his four-year-old granddaughter, along with a store employee, as reported by authorities.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday afternoon at a Target located in North Austin during the back-to-school shopping period. On Tuesday, Austin police identified the alleged shooter as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker and released a mugshot displaying his bloodied and bruised face following his apprehension.
According to police, the shooting, which commenced at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time on Monday, was deemed random.
Nieneker fatally shot Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, a 24-year-old Target employee, while he was in the process of collecting shopping carts, as reported by local CBS affiliate KEYE.
Following this, Nieneker fled to a Jeep Cherokee, discharging bullets at the vehicle as it attempted to flee, according to authorities.
He subsequently targeted a Toyota 4Runner, injuring Adam Chow, 65, who was seated in the driver’s position, along with his young granddaughter, who was seated in the back, as stated by police.
The grandmother of the four-year-old, who sustained minor injuries, managed to carry her from the vehicle, but it was too late. Both Chow and his granddaughter succumbed to their injuries at the scene. The store employee was transported for medical care but later passed away in the hospital.
After the shooting incident, Nieneker commandeered the Toyota and proceeded to the Mopac Expressway in Austin, according to police.
The suspected shooter then attacked a water truck driver in an effort to steal his vehicle, as reported by authorities. Shortly thereafter, he crashed the Toyota into several cars, assaulted a woman, and stole her Volkswagen, according to police.
After Nieneker’s unsuccessful attempt to break into a self-driving Waymo vehicle and his act of throwing a brick through the residence of an acquaintance, police located him wandering around without clothing, as per authorities.
He was taken into custody in South Austin after an officer deployed a stun gun on him. The interval from the initiation of the shooting to Nieneker’s arrest was less than one hour.
“This is a very sad day for Austin,” Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said Monday afternoon. “This is a very sad day for us all.” Amid the chaotic shooting, Target shoppers were evacuated by police to a nearby PetSmart, and officials warned the public to stay away from the area.
Cars in the Target parking lot were temporarily held as police investigated. As of 10 p.m. local time Monday, people whose cars were left in the parking lot were allowed to pick them up.
Who is Ethan Nieneker?
Chief Davis said the suspected shooter had a “mental health history” and a past “rap sheet” with Austin police.
What is his criminal history?
KEYE reported, citing records, that Nieneker had at least six previous charges in Travis County and five more in nearby Williamson County.
His rap sheet includes several assaults causing bodily injury in family violence cases, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated and violating a protective order, per KEYE.
