Ethan Nieneker, 32, faces charges of capital murder by terror threat, capital murder of a person under 10 years of age and first-degree murder.
AUSTIN, Texas — An affidavit has revealed new details surrounding the arrest of a man police say shot and killed three people in a North Austin Target parking lot, assaulted multiple others and destroyed multiple vehicles in the span of less than an hour on Monday.
Ethan Nieneker, 32, was arrested on Monday in South Austin, in the 2400 block of La Casa Drive, according to the Austin Police Department (APD). APD Chief Lisa Davis said Nieneker has a history of mental health issues.
According to Travis County Jail records, Nieneker faces charges of capital murder by terror threat, capital murder of a person under 10 years of age and first-degree murder.
Nieneker has been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation and is under mental health observation. His bond has been set at $2.5 million.
According to court documents, Nieneker admitted to police he killed his victims at random.
What happened at the Target and after Nieneker left?
At approximately 2:15 p.m., calls came into 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 at 3:01 p.m. 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, at 2:39 p.m. and 2:50 p.m., respectively, while Chow’s wife sustained minor injuries.
APD said its investigation has revealed that Nieneker “randomly attacked” Rosa Machuca, a Target employee, in the parking lot, shooting and killing them as they were collecting shopping carts. Police and family initially identified Machuca by a different name, but later confirmed they were known as Rosa.
“In the interest of respecting all who knew and loved them, including their immediate family, we believe it is important to honor and acknowledge them as they lived their life,” APD said in an update on Wednesday evening.
Nieneker then 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 the 4-year-old. 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.
Police said Nieneker “conducted these violent offenses,” including the deadly shootings and destruction of multiple vehicles, in the span of less than an hour.
What Nieneker told police
The arrest affidavit detailed what Nieneker told police after he was taken into custody.
According to the affidavit, police say Neineker told them, “I have a confession to make: I killed a man and a baby girl today. In Target, in the Target parking lot. I shot them both because I’m Jesus.”
The affidavit also says that Neineker told police that he has not been diagnosed with a mental health condition, nor had he used narcotics within the prior week or consumed alcohol since August 2024. The affidavit also says that Nieneker told police that each of the shootings were random and that he didn’t know any of the victims.
APD is encouraging anyone who might have photos, videos or potential evidence to submit them here. Information can be submitted by contacting APD at 512-974-TIPS or Capital Area Crime Stoppers online or by calling 512-472-8477.
This incident is being investigated as the city’s 39th, 40th and 41st homicide of 2025.