Man Claiming to Be ‘Jesus’ Kills 4-Year-Old Girl and Two Others in Austin Target Shooting Spree

What began as an ordinary Monday afternoon in north Austin turned into a nightmare when a man opened fire outside a Target store, killing three people — including a young child — and injuring another, before leading police on a violent rampage across the city.

The suspect, identified by police as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker, was arrested after a string of collisions, assaults, and attempted carjackings that left the community in shock. Authorities say he claimed to be a religious figure during his arrest.

The Deadly Parking Lot Attack
The violence erupted just after 2:15 p.m. on August 11 in the parking lot of the Target on Research Boulevard. Witnesses say Nieneker first shot 24-year-old employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca while he was retrieving shopping carts.

Moments later, Nieneker fired at a black Jeep Cherokee, then turned toward a Toyota 4Runner where 65-year-old Adam Chow sat with his wife Doris and their 4-year-old granddaughter, Astrid Fung. Chow and Fung were both shot and killed instantly. Doris was wounded but survived.

Investigators say Doris tried desperately to pull her granddaughter to safety, but Nieneker pushed her aside and sped off in the stolen SUV.

A Citywide Rampage
Police report that over the next 45 minutes, Nieneker drove recklessly across Austin, crashing into cars, attempting to steal vehicles, and assaulting multiple people.

At one point, he allegedly forced a construction worker out of a water truck on Mopac Expressway, only to abandon it and return to the stolen 4Runner. Minutes later, he smashed into a Volkswagen and an Infiniti, assaulted the Volkswagen’s female driver, and stole her car.

Witness Chris Ferran told KGNS News that the chaos unfolded right in front of him. “The SUV slammed into two cars and kept going. I called 911, but when I saw him pull a worker from a truck while armed, I just grabbed my daughters and got out of there,” he said.

Nieneker’s rampage also included breaking a window at a home belonging to someone he knew from a Bible study group. Officers finally caught up with him at 3:06 p.m. on Montclaire Street, where he was walking naked through a residential area. Police say he ignored commands and had to be subdued with a Taser.

‘Unprovoked and Deliberate’
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis described the attack as “unprovoked and deliberate” against “innocent lives in broad daylight.”

Sgt. Nathan Sexton confirmed there was no apparent connection between Nieneker and his victims. “It was completely random,” he said. “The only thing he told us was that he was Jesus.”

Court records reveal Nieneker’s criminal history spans more than a decade, with prior arrests for domestic violence, assault, drug offenses, and driving violations. Many charges were dismissed, while others led to short jail terms.

Community in Mourning
The Chow family called Adam “the heart and steady backbone” of their lives and remembered Astrid as “pure silliness and joy.” “We are broken and miss them both so much,” they said in a statement.

Friends and co-workers at Target described Machuca as a hardworking, kindhearted young man who was deeply valued by his colleagues.

Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the killings, searching for answers in a tragedy that has shaken Austin to its core.