Triple Murder in Austin During Carjacking
A man is facing serious charges after a violent incident on Monday that led to the deaths of three people, including a four-year-old girl, at a Target store in Austin, Texas.
The Austin Police Department announced that 32-year-old Ethan Nienker was arrested and is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of first-degree felony murder.
The victims have been identified as the four-year-old granddaughter of Hector Leopold Martinez Machuca, and Adam Chow, along with Chow’s granddaughter. Police responded to multiple reports of gunfire around 2:15 PM at the Target parking lot on Research Boulevard, where they found Machuca, who was declared dead at the hospital shortly after.
Chow and his granddaughter were tragically found deceased at the scene. Initial investigations suggest Nienker began shooting randomly, hitting Machuca, who was collecting shopping carts at the time.
Witness accounts indicate that Nienker fled the scene and fired shots at random vehicles, including one where Chow was seated. After allegedly shooting Chow, Nienker is said to have attacked the four-year-old girl. Chow’s wife was reportedly pushed out of the car as she attempted to help her granddaughter before Nienker sped away.
After leaving the lot, Nienker reportedly attempted to steal a water truck but later returned to his own vehicle after a failed attempt. Then, he was involved in a multi-vehicle collision, crashing into another car, a Volkswagen, after which he forcibly dragged the female driver out of her car.
Police later received reports of a naked man wandering in the area, which turned out to be Nienker, who was spotted running down Montclaire Street. Officers found clothing that matched descriptions linked to him nearby.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis expressed deep sorrow over the incident, noting, “There are three people who have passed away. This is a very sad day for Austin. My heart goes out to the family.” Early indications reveal that Nienker has a history of mental health issues.
In light of the tragedy, Target issued a statement expressing their devastation over the incident and their commitment to supporting the affected families and collaborating with law enforcement during the ongoing investigation.
