Three children, including one minor, lose their lives in a shooting at a Target store in Austin, while the perpetrator is taken into custody.
A tragic incident unfolded in Austin, Texas, on Monday afternoon, August 11, 2025, when a mass shooting occurred in the parking lot of a Target store at 8601 Research Boulevard Northbound. The latest update on this incident reveals that the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Ethan Blaine Nieneker, has been arrested following a police chase on the south side of Austin.
The shooting claimed the lives of three individuals, including a child. The first victim was Rosa Martinez Machuca, a 24-year-old Target employee who was collecting carts. She later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The second victim was Adam Chow, a 66-year-old Asian male, and his 4-year-old granddaughter, identified as Astrid Fung. Adam Chow’s wife survived the shooting.
Nieneker allegedly stole Adam Chow's car after the shootings and fled the scene. However, further details about the stolen vehicles or the suspect's flight from the scene have not been disclosed.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, with Austin Police indicating that the attack was random and unprovoked. During questioning, the suspect reportedly claimed to be Jesus but provided no coherent reason for the shootings. The event has been described as a "random choosing of the victims" in broad daylight.
The investigation into the motive for the shooting is ongoing, with no new information provided regarding the suspect's mental health history or the ongoing investigation.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed his condolences to the families of the shooting victims, calling the incident a "sickening, cowardly act of gun violence." He also expressed gratitude for the quick response of APD officers and first responders.
The identities of the victims, apart from Rosa Martinez Machuca and Adam Chow, have not been disclosed, nor have updates on their current health status been provided. The identity of the victim believed to be the driver of the stolen vehicle remains undisclosed.
The Austin Police Department continues to investigate this incident. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
The tragic incident at the Target store in Austin, Texas, has garnered significant attention in the realm of both general-news and crime-and-justice, as it involves a mass shooting that left three individuals dead, including a child and a Target employee named Rosa Martinez Machuca. Politics may also be involved, as Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has expressed his views on the incident.
