Man Claiming to Be Jesus Arrested After Deadly Shooting Spree at Austin Target

A quiet Monday afternoon in north Austin turned into a nightmare on August 11, when a man armed with a gun opened fire outside a Target store, killing three people—including a young child—and injuring another before wreaking havoc across the city.

Police have identified the suspect as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker, who told authorities he was a religious figure. Among those killed were Target worker Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24; 65-year-old Adam Chow; and Chow’s 4-year-old granddaughter, Astrid Fung. Chow’s wife, Doris, was wounded but is expected to survive, according to ABC News.

The Shooting Outside Target

Investigators say the violence began around 2:15 p.m. in the parking lot of the Target on Research Boulevard. Machuca was gathering shopping carts when Nieneker allegedly shot him. He then fired at the driver of a black Jeep Cherokee before targeting a Toyota 4Runner, where Adam Chow sat in the driver’s seat with his wife and granddaughter.

Nieneker is accused of shooting Adam and Astrid at close range. Doris managed to pull her granddaughter from the vehicle, but the suspect shoved her aside and stole the SUV. Both Adam and Astrid were pronounced dead at the scene.

A Rampage Across Austin

What followed was a series of chaotic and violent encounters throughout the city. Authorities say Nieneker crashed into multiple vehicles, assaulted drivers, and attempted several carjackings. Minutes after fleeing the Target, he reportedly forced a construction worker out of a water truck on Mopac Expressway before abandoning it and returning to the stolen SUV.

Soon after, he collided with a Volkswagen and an Infiniti SUV, attacked the Volkswagen’s female driver, and sped off in her car. Witness Chris Ferran told KGNS News he saw the suspect’s vehicle slam into two cars on the highway before the armed man pulled a worker from his truck. “I reversed as fast as I could to get my daughters away from there,” Ferran said.

The spree continued with break-in attempts and vandalism, including an incident where Nieneker allegedly threw a brick through the window of someone he knew from Bible study.

Arrest in a Residential Neighborhood

At 3:06 p.m., police caught up with Nieneker on Montclaire Street, where he was reportedly walking naked through a neighborhood. Officers used a Taser to subdue him after he ignored commands to surrender.

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis described the attack as “deliberate and without warning,” calling it a senseless act against innocent people.

A History of Trouble

Records show Nieneker lived alone, worked at a restaurant, and had a lengthy criminal record spanning over a decade, including domestic violence, assault, driving offenses, and drug-related charges. Some cases were dismissed, while others resulted in short jail terms.

Sgt. Nathan Sexton said the suspect gave no motive, other than claiming to be Jesus, and that the victims were chosen at random.

Community in Mourning

The Chow family issued a heartbreaking statement describing Adam as the “steady backbone” of their lives and Astrid as “pure joy and laughter.” Co-workers remembered Machuca as kind, hardworking, and always ready to help.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together the events leading to one of Austin’s most shocking acts of violence in recent memory.