Texas Target shooting suspect Ethan Nieneker's mugshot after 3 dead, including a child
Ethan Nieneker, 32, is accused of gunning down the victims in Austin on Monday afternoon before making a dramatic getaway that involved two stolen cars and a police chase.
Nieneker, who cops had earlier described as having a 'mental health history,' ended up being detained with the help of a Taser on the other side of the city.
Ethan Nieneker allegedly killed two adults and a child in the parking lot of a Target in Austin, Texas.
Austin Police Department
His mugshot showed blood oozing from a gash under one of his eyes, as well as several scratches across his face.
Nieneker is facing multiple murder charges.
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NBC News
a day ago
- NBC News
‘He doesn't feel safe': Family speaks out after teen with disability is mistakenly detained by federal agents
The mother of a 15-year-old California boy who was briefly detained by federal agents at gunpoint in a case of mistaken identity recalled the terrifying interaction in an interview Wednesday. Andreina Mejia said she was parked at the curb outside Arleta High School on Monday to enroll her daughter. At that time, her son, Baldemar Gutierrez, who has special needs, was with her. All of a sudden, a truck pulled up behind Mejia's car and a group of masked men poured out of the truck to surround her and her son, she recalled. 'Somebody approached me, and another person approached [Baldermar], pointing a gun and a Taser,' she said. 'They pulled him out and they handcuffed him right away.' Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho described the incident during a news conference Tuesday, adding that surveillance video captured armed agents wearing 'police' and 'Border Patrol' insignia taking the teen into custody. 'This young man was placed in handcuffs, presumably based on mistaken identity. He was not an adult. He was a 15-year-old boy with significant disabilities,' Carvalho said. California, led by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, has become a target in the tough immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump's administration. Earlier this month, an appeals court kept in place a Los Angeles federal judge's ruling that bars immigration agents from using a person's spoken language or job, like day laborer, as the sole pretext to detain them. The administration is also embroiled in a legal fight with the state over whether it violated federal law when it mobilized troops to Los Angeles this summer. The administration said the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines was meant to support immigration officials. Carvalho said the agents involved in Monday's incident left bullets behind at the scene. District police reached out to the agencies that had been there to ask them to return and collect the ammunition, Carvalho said, but were told that they could keep the rounds and use them for target practice. 'That's not suitable for us,' Carvalho said. 'Come and get what you left behind.' In a post on X, the Department of Homeland Security said Border Patrol agents were not targeting the high school. The agents were looking for a Salvadoran national with prior criminal convictions and suspected of ties to the gang MS-13, DHS said. The department did not respond to an NBC News email Tuesday night asking why the teen was detained and requesting more details on the incident. Mejia said her son has been shaken up since the encounter. 'He breaks down, and he tells me he feels harassed. He tells me he doesn't feel safe,' the mother said. The teen, who has a hearing condition and speech delays, said the agents showed him a picture, asking him about a person they were looking for. 'They handcuffed me and kept telling me who this person is, and I was like, 'I don't know who that person is,'' Baldermar recalled. Mejia also said the agents showed her the picture, and she responded that the person pictured was not her son. Baldermar kept repeating his name and told the men that he was a U.S. citizen, the mom said. When the agents finally realized their mistake, they removed her son from handcuffs and implied it was a worthwhile experience for him, Mejia said. '[One agent] was like, 'Oh, we confused him with somebody else, but look at the bright side: You're going to have an exciting story to tell your friends when you go back to school,'' Mejia recalled. 'What's exciting about getting guns pointed at you?' Mejia added that agents could have asked for identification before placing her son in handcuffs. Carvalho called the incident 'unacceptable' and said district schools will have safety plans in place, including increasing patrols by school police so that they can alert schools of any potential immigration operations. 'That example says all we need to know about why these actions should not be taking place around schools. Bullets on the ground — what else do we need? Beyond the trauma, what else do we need?' Carvalho said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Austin man charged with capital murder in deadly Target parking lot shooting spree Monday
A man faces capital murder charges after allegedly shooting and killing three people, including a 4-year-old girl, during a carjacking at a Target store in Austin, Texas, on Monday. The Austin Police Department said 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker was arrested on Monday and charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of first-degree felony murder. Police identified the victims who were killed as Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, Adam Chow and Chow's 4-year-old granddaughter. According to police, officers responded to calls of multiple shootings at the Target parking lot near Research Boulevard at about 2:15 p.m., and when they arrived, they found Machuca in the parking lot. 3 Shot In Times Square, 17-Year-old Suspect Detained After Late-night Dispute Machuca was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Read On The Fox News App Officers also found a family, including Chow, his granddaughter and his wife. Chow and his granddaughter were both pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation found that Nieneker allegedly attacked Target employee Machuca, who was collecting shopping carts when he was randomly shot. Police said Nieneker then ran and began shooting at a Jeep Cherokee that attempted to evade gunfire. He then ran up to a Toyota 4Runner and allegedly shot Chow, who was in the driver's seat. Shooting At Nevada Casino Resort Leaves Multiple People Injured; Suspect In Custody After shooting Chow, Nieneker allegedly fired into the backseat and struck the 4-year-old girl. As Chow's wife carried their granddaughter from the SUV, the suspect allegedly pushed her from the vehicle before speeding out of the parking lot in the 4Runner. Shortly after fleeing the parking lot, police said, Nieneker attempted to steal a water truck. But after an unsuccessful attempt, he returned to the Toyota and drove off. Police responded to a call for a multi-vehicle crash and discovered the 4Runner crashed into a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV. After crashing, Nieneker went to the Volkswagen, allegedly assaulted the female driver, removed her from the vehicle and drove off. Shooting At Tennessee Class Reunion Leaves 4 Hospitalized Police said Nieneker also attempted to break into a Waymo vehicle, but after failing to do so, he drove off in the Volkswagen. Just before 3 p.m., police received a call of a naked man walking through the backyard of a residence on La Casa Drive, who was seen running into a "porta potty" before fleeing on foot. The call came after an acquaintance of Nieneker reported to police that he had thrown a brick through his residence on the same street. When police arrived, they saw Nieneker walking on Montclaire Street naked, and after he failed to comply with commands, officers tased him and took him into custody. The officers also reported that they found matching clothing that was seen on the suspect inside the "porta potty." "We have three people that are deceased. This is a very sad day for Austin," Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said on Monday. "It's a very bad day for us all, and my condolences go out to the families." A preliminary investigation found the suspect has a history of mental health issues, the chief said. Davies told reporters the suspect has a rap sheet as well as emergency detention holds. Davies told reporters the investigation has not revealed what led to the shooting, noting that police do not know if there was an altercation at this point. Still, investigators will review surveillance footage outside of Target to get a better idea of what happened. Target employees directed shoppers out of the back of the store, a source tells FOX Business. "We are devastated by the violence that occurred today at our store in Austin, Texas. Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin and all those impacted by this tragedy," Target said. "We are working with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly at the scene. In the days ahead, we will continue partnering with law enforcement and will be providing support resources, including grief counseling, to our team."Original article source: Austin man charged with capital murder in deadly Target parking lot shooting spree Monday
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
Austin Target Shooting Suspect Ethan Nieneker Shared Right-Wing Memes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The man accused of fatally shooting three people outside a Target store in Austin, Texas, shared right-wing memes and posts on Facebook. Ethan Nieneker, 32, is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of murder over Monday's shooting. Newsweek has contacted Republican Governor Greg Abbott's office for comment via email. The Context Police said the gunman killed an employee collecting shopping carts outside the store, then a man and his 4-year-old granddaughter in a sport utility vehicle. The suspect then fled in that vehicle, causing multiple crashes and stealing other cars before being subdued with a Taser and taken into custody. The victims were identified Tuesday by police as Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24, Adam Chow, 65, and Chow's 4-year-old granddaughter, local news station KVUE reported. What To Know Nieneker has shared several posts attacking liberal politics and Democratic figures on Facebook over the years, according to a Newsweek review of his page. His social media history was first reported by MeidasTouch News. In June 2019, he shared a photo of a person wearing a makeshift hat with the words "2020 President Trump will be reelected," writing alongside it: "America AF." Ethan Nieneker, 32, is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of murder over Monday's shooting in Austin. Ethan Nieneker, 32, is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of murder over Monday's shooting in Austin. Austin Police Department In August that year, he shared a meme that depicted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost the presidential election to Trump in 2016, shooting Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who authorities said died by suicide while in prison. Two posts that Nieneker shared in June 2019 criticized prominent progressives—Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. One post criticized Sanders for flying in first class on a domestic flight, while the other mocked Ocasio-Cortez for crying near "an empty parking lot" at the U.S.-Mexico border. The photos of Ocasio-Cortez were taken in 2018 outside a facility housing migrant children during a protest against the first Trump admin's family separation policy. In June 2018, Nieneker shared a USA Today article on his page, about a billboard in Texas that urged "liberals" to continue driving until they had left the state. A month prior, he shared a meme showing a man holding two automatic rifles, one in each hand, that was captioned: "This is how I feel about gun control. Please unfriend me if you disagree." Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference that Nieneker had a history of mental health issues. Court documents reviewed by Newsweek show he has a lengthy criminal history, including at least 24 charges for offenses including assault causing bodily injury, criminal mischief and driving while intoxicated. He was convicted of a charge of assault causing bodily injury family violence in 2016 and briefly sentenced to jail. What People Are Saying Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a press conference on Tuesday: "What happened yesterday was an unprovoked and deliberate attack, a deliberate act of violence. Innocent lives were taken in broad daylight in a place where people should feel safe to run their everyday errands and to live their everyday lives. "The actions of the suspect showed a complete disregard for human life and the pain caused will be felt by our community for years to come." Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, a Democrat, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Make no mistake—yesterday's [August 11] attack was a sickening act of gun violence that took the innocent lives of a 4-year-old child, her grandfather, and a Target employee. "I know that all Austinites join me in deep sympathy for the Martinez Machuca and Chow families. We grieve with them and lift them up in this time of need. Austin is heartbroken." Target said in a statement to Newsweek: "We are devastated by the violence that occurred today at our store in Austin, Texas. Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin and all those impacted by this tragedy." What's Next The investigation is ongoing. The Austin Police Department is urging anyone with information to contact them at 512-974-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting or calling (512) 472-8477.
