Shooting incident at Target store on Research Boulevard, Austin: Multiple individuals reported being shot by an active gunman
In a shocking turn of events, a shooting incident at a Target store off Research Boulevard in North Austin, Texas, has left three people dead and the suspect in custody.
The incident occurred on Monday, August 11, 2025, around 2:15 p.m. The Austin Travis County's official X handle reported the shooting, and the Austin Police Department was swiftly involved in the investigation.
The victims include Rosa Martinez Machuca, a 24-year-old Target employee; Adam Chow, 65; and his 4-year-old granddaughter, Astrid Fung. They were shot in the parking lot of the Target at 8601 Research Boulevard. Unfortunately, Chow and his granddaughter died at the scene, while Martinez Machuca succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker, has a history of mental health issues and a criminal record. He reportedly carried out a random attack before stealing a car, fleeing, crashing, hijacking another vehicle, and ultimately being detained by police. Nieneker did not comply with commands and was found acting disturbingly in a porta potty before his arrest.
Nieneker has been charged with three counts of murder and is being held on a combined $2.5 million bond. The police investigation continues, and he may face additional charges.
Police and Target have expressed their condolences and are providing grief counseling to Target's team. The motive for the attack remains unknown, though police described it as "unprovoked and deliberate." Nieneker reportedly claimed he was "Jesus" but gave no reason for his actions.
This senseless attack has sparked widespread condemnation and is generating ongoing legal and community responses. The Austin Police Department has confirmed that at least four people were victims of the shooting, with three fatalities.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims during this difficult time.
Key facts about the victims: - Rosa Martinez Machuca: Target employee shot while collecting carts, died at hospital. - Adam Chow and granddaughter Astrid Fung: Shot in their car at the parking lot, died at the scene.
- Despite the ongoing investigations into the senseless attack at a Target store in North Austin, Texas, the motive behind the unprovoked shooting still remains a mystery.
- The sports world was put on hold as the tragic shooting incident in Austin, Texas, that claimed the lives of three innocent people, including a Target employee, dominated the headlines, pushing general-news stories such as cricket updates off the front pages.
- In the midst of the ever-evolving political landscape, the shooting at a Target store in Austin, Texas, serves as a stark reminder of the pressing issues in the crime-and-justice sector, as a mentally ill, criminal suspect armed with a gun terrorized the community, leaving three lives tragically cut short.
