Naked and Claiming to be Jesus: Chaos Erupts as Texas Target Shooter on Nine-Vehicle Spree Leaves Three Dead
A 32-year-old man caused an hour of terror and panic in Austin, Texas on Monday after fatally shooting three individuals in a Target parking lot. The victims included a Target employee, a grandfather, and his four-year-old granddaughter.
The gunfire erupted around 2:15 p.m., during a busy afternoon shopping spree for back-to-school essentials, claimed the lives of Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, Adam Chow, and his young granddaughter.
Sgt. Nathan Sexton of the Austin Police Department confirmed that the victims were chosen randomly. The incident is one among a series of fatal shootings at safe locations across the US, including a bar in Montana, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offices in Atlanta, and an office building in New York City.
The suspect, identified as Ethan Nieneker, has been charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of first-degree felony murder. Further charges are pending due to assaults, vehicle thefts, and property damage. It is unclear whether Nieneker has made a court appearance or obtained legal representation. The motive behind the shooting remains undetermined.
According to police, the incident began when Nieneker attacked and killed Machuca as he was collecting shopping carts at Target. He then attempted to hijack a Jeep Cherokee and fired gunshots, subsequently targeting a gray Toyota 4-Runner, killing Adam Chow and his four-year-old granddaughter in the process. The grandmother sustained minor injuries.
Nieneker stole Chow’s 4-Runner before leading authorities on a chase that involved multiple incidents. Witnesses reported seeing him crash into two vehicles and steal another one. He also attempted to hijack a self-driving vehicle from Waymo and vandalized a home belonging to an acquaintance from Bible study.
The manhunt ended around 2:58 p.m., when officers responded to a call about a naked man wandering through a backyard. Nieneker was found in a nearby portable toilet, where he had discarded his clothes, and refused commands from the police. He was subsequently tasered and taken into custody at 3:06 p.m. Nieneker reportedly declared to officers that he considered himself to be Jesus.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson denounced the shooting as a “sickening, cowardly act of gun violence.” The firearm used in the attack was reportedly obtained from family members.
Nieneker has prior criminal offenses, including assault causing bodily injury to a family member, driving while intoxicated, and possession of marijuana. The police chief has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with Target cooperating fully.