Ethan Nieneker faces charges including attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after three people were killed in the shooting.
AUSTIN, Texas — The suspect in a fatal shooting at a North Austin Target now faces five new charges.
Travis County Jail records show 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker now faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated robbery and robbery, as well as two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
These five new charges are in addition to the charges of capital murder by terror threat, capital murder of a person under 10 years of age and first-degree murder that had already been filed against Nieneker.
His combined bond for all charges is now $3.4 million. A mental health evaluation has been ordered for Nieneker.
3 killed in North Austin Target shooting
At approximately 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, calls came into the Austin Police Department (APD) about multiple shootings at the Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road. APD Chief Davis said officers arrived on the scene shortly after.
When officers arrived, they found 24-year-old Rosa Machuca in the parking lot. They were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Officers also located 65-year-old Adam Chow, his wife and their 4-year-old granddaughter. Both Chow and his granddaughter were pronounced dead at the scene, while Chow’s wife sustained minor injuries.
APD said Nieneker “randomly attacked” Rosa Machuca, a Target employee, in the parking lot, shooting and killing them as they were collecting shopping carts.
Nieneker then allegedly ran to a black Jeep Cherokee and began firing as the Jeep tried to avoid the gunfire.
Police say Nieneker then ran up to a gray Toyota 4-Runner, where he shot Chow as he sat in the driver seat, before firing into the backseat and striking Chow’s granddaughter. Chow’s wife carried their granddaughter from the car, and Nieneker allegedly pushed her from the vehicle before driving the Toyota out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed.
At around 2:20 p.m., police say Nieneker found a water truck parked along the 7800 block of the MoPac Expressway. He opened the driver’s door and “repeatedly assaulted” the driver before pushing him out of the truck. Police say Nieneker then tried to put the truck into drive but couldn’t, so he jumped out and chased a man with a pistol in his hand before running back to the Toyota 4-Runner and driving off.
Roughly five minutes later, APD received a call of a multi-vehicle crash after the 4-Runner crashed into a Volkswagen and landed on top of an Infiniti SUV. Nieneker allegedly got out of the Toyota, went over to the Volkswagen, opened the door and “repeatedly assaulted” the driver. He then pushed her out of the Volkswagen and drove off.
APD said at 2:34 p.m., a suspect matching Nieneker’s description got out of the Volkswagen and went up to a Waymo, attempting to break into it. He was unsuccessful, and police say he got back in the Volkswagen and drove off.
Three minutes later, a person who said they knew Nieneker through Bible study told police Nieneker had thrown a brick through his residence on La Casa Drive in South Austin.
Just before 3 p.m., APD received a call of a naked man walking through a backyard in the same area as the acquaintance’s home. Police said Nieneker was seen running into a portable toilet before leaving on foot.
Officers found Nieneker walking naked on Montclaire Street. Officers issued commands, and when Nieneker didn’t comply, a Taser was used and he was taken into custody at 3:06 p.m.
Officers checked the area and found the matching suspect clothing previously captured on surveillance video inside the portable toilet.
An affidavit later obtained by KVUE showed Nieneker confessed to the shooting, claiming he was Jesus.
“I have a confession to make,” he allegedly told police. “I killed a man and a baby girl today. In Target, in the Target parking lot. I shot them both because I’m Jesus.”
APD Chief Davis said Nieneker has a previous background of mental illness.
On Aug. 15, APD said it was looking to identify the driver of a white minivan that was involved in a crash with Nieneker on the day of the shooting.
Nieneker’s criminal history
Nieneker has a lengthy criminal history, with multiple arrests records ranging as far back as 2012. That year, he was arrested and convicted for a misdemeanor marijuana possession in Williamson County.
In 2015, he was arrested for felony Criminal Mischief and misdemeanor DWI, also in Williamson County. He also faced charges of misdemeanor Assault Causing Bodily Injury – Family Violence.
In 2016, he was was arrested and convicted of Felony Assault – Family Violence. That same year, he was arrested and convicted of felony Violation of a Bond/Protective Order, and a misdemeanor Criminal Mischief charge was dismissed against him.
In 2017, he was arrested in Travis County for a second misdemeanor DWI, and in 2019, he was arrested for Felony Assault – Family Violence in Travis County in a case that was eventually dismissed.