Gunman at retail outlet reportedly discharged weapons indiscriminately, authorities claim; individual's prior record of psychiatric instability on display.
In the heart of Austin, Texas, on August 11, 2025, a shocking and senseless act of violence took place outside a Target store. The event claimed the lives of three innocent individuals: a 4-year-old girl named Astrid Fung, her grandfather Adam Chow, and a 24-year-old Target employee, Rosa Martinez Machuca[1][2].
The perpetrator, identified as Ethan Blane Nieneker, a 32-year-old man, was described by police as having committed an unprovoked and deliberate attack[1]. The attack occurred in broad daylight, with no clear motive other than Nieneker's claim that he was Jesus[1].
The victims of this heinous act were:
- Astrid Fung, a 4-year-old child, who was tragically taken too soon,
- Adam Chow, a devoted family man and a man who dedicated his life to loving God and others,
- Rosa Martinez Machuca, a Target employee who was collecting carts when she was shot; she was a transgender woman, remembered affectionately by her fiancé[2].
Following the murders, Nieneker wounded Adam Chow’s wife and stole their vehicle. He then fled the scene, during which he committed several further offenses including breaking into vehicles, assaulting two drivers, crashing into multiple cars, and even throwing a brick into the home of an acquaintance[3][4].
Nieneker's criminal history stretches back over a decade, with multiple encounters with law enforcement[3][4]. He is now facing multiple charges, including two counts of capital murder, one count of first-degree felony murder, two counts of second-degree felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of second-degree felony robbery, one count of second-degree felony attempted murder, and one count of first-degree aggravated robbery[3][4].
The Chow family and the community are in deep mourning over this loss, and support resources such as grief counseling are being provided by the employer of one of the victims as investigations continue[1].
In a tragic twist, it was reported that Nieneker was arrested naked, holding a Bible, during one of his previous arrests[5]. He also has a history of past arrests for domestic violence and assault, including three arrests on felony domestic violence charges in Travis County[5].
The incident has left the Austin community shaken and in mourning, as they grapple with the senseless loss of life. The authorities continue to investigate the case, and Nieneker remains in Travis County Jail on a combined bond of $3.4 million[3][4].
[1] ABC News, (2025). Suspect Charged in Shooting Outside Austin Target Store that Killed 3. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-charged-shooting-outside-austin-target-store-killed/story?id=93525581
[2] Austin American-Statesman, (2025). Victims Remembered in Target Shooting. [online] Available at: https://www.statesman.com/news/2025-08-15/victims-remembered-in-target-shooting
[3] KXAN, (2025). Suspect in Target Shooting Faces Multiple Charges. [online] Available at: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/suspect-in-target-shooting-faces-multiple-charges/
[4] CBS Austin, (2025). Suspect in Target Shooting Remains in Jail on $3.4 Million Bond. [online] Available at: https://austin.cbslocal.com/2025/08/15/suspect-in-target-shooting-remains-in-jail-on-3-4-million-bond/
[5] KVUE, (2025). Suspect Claimed to be Jesus During Arrest, Has History of Domestic Violence. [online] Available at: https://www.kvue.com/news/local/suspect-claimed-to-be-jesus-during-arrest-has-history-of-domestic-violence/1933686673/
- The general-news outlets reported on the ongoing investigation of the crime-and-justice case in Austin, Texas, where a perpetrator, Ethan Blane Nieneker, was charged with multiple offenses, including mental-health issues, after he committed a heinous act of violence outside a Target store, claiming the lives of three innocent individuals and causing a massive outcry in the health-and-wellness community.
- Despite Nieneker's ongoing legal proceedings for the crime-and-justice case, mental-health advocates are working tirelessly to address the underlying issues that may have contributed to his violent actions, as it was discovered he had a history of domestic violence and past arrests, raising questions about the intersection between mental health, crime, and justice in society.
