Three dead in Texas parking lot shooting, man arrested
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told a news conference the suspect is a man in his 30s with "a mental health history."
Davis said the man fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car then stole another from a dealership. He was captured in south Austin, where he was taken into custody.
She said responding officers found three people who had been shot in the Target parking lot.
Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and one person was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead.
He said another person was treated on the scene for unrelated injuries.
"This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families," Davis said.
She said she had no information to release about the victims.
Target didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year.
"This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X.
"While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence."
At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place.
Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic.
"I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," he said.
The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26 and has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
A gunman has opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin, killing at least three people, then stole two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the Texas capital.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told a news conference the suspect is a man in his 30s with "a mental health history."
Davis said the man fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car then stole another from a dealership. He was captured in south Austin, where he was taken into custody.
She said responding officers found three people who had been shot in the Target parking lot.
Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and one person was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead.
He said another person was treated on the scene for unrelated injuries.
"This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families," Davis said.
She said she had no information to release about the victims.
Target didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year.
"This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X.
"While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence."
At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place.
Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic.
"I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," he said.
The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26 and has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
A gunman has opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin, killing at least three people, then stole two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the Texas capital.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told a news conference the suspect is a man in his 30s with "a mental health history."
Davis said the man fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car then stole another from a dealership. He was captured in south Austin, where he was taken into custody.
She said responding officers found three people who had been shot in the Target parking lot.
Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and one person was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead.
He said another person was treated on the scene for unrelated injuries.
"This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families," Davis said.
She said she had no information to release about the victims.
Target didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year.
"This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X.
"While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence."
At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place.
Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic.
"I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," he said.
The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26 and has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
A gunman has opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin, killing at least three people, then stole two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the Texas capital.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told a news conference the suspect is a man in his 30s with "a mental health history."
Davis said the man fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car then stole another from a dealership. He was captured in south Austin, where he was taken into custody.
She said responding officers found three people who had been shot in the Target parking lot.
Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and one person was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead.
He said another person was treated on the scene for unrelated injuries.
"This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families," Davis said.
She said she had no information to release about the victims.
Target didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment.
The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year.
"This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X.
"While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence."
At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place.
Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic.
"I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," he said.
The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26 and has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
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9 News
6 hours ago
- 9 News
Grandfather and granddaughter among those killed in US Target shooting
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here US police have identified the victims in a shooting that killed three people, including a child, in a Target parking lot. The victims include Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca as well as Adam Chow and Chow's granddaughter. "Adam Chow and his 4-year-old granddaughter were pronounced deceased on scene," a Tuesday statement says. Martinez Machuca was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital. Chow's wife sustained minor injuries, the release said. Police block the entrance to a Target after a shooting in Austin, Texas, on August 11. (AP) Authorities said the suspected gunman, Ethan Nieneker, "randomly attacked" Martinez Machuca — a Target employee — in the parking lot on Monday local time. Nieneker allegedly shot him as he was collecting shopping carts, the release said. The shooting is one in a spate of deadly gun violence in the US, and follows killings in recent weeks at places normally considered safe – a Montana bar, the offices of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and an office building in New York City. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said Tuesday the victims were picked at random and Nieneker had "serious issues". "There were some serious failures here … when you look at potentially some mental illness there," Davis said. The firearm used in Monday's fatal shooting was "acquired through family," Austin police Sergeant Nathan Sexton said Tuesday. Nieneker, 32, is being held at the Travis County Jail, charged with capital murder by terror threat, capital murder of a person under 10 years old and felony first-degree murder, according to online jail records . A police mugshot of suspect Mugshot of Ethan Nieneker. (Austin Police Department) He also has prior criminal offences, including assault causing bodily injury to a family member, driving while intoxicated and possession of marijuana, Davis said on Tuesday. It is unclear if Nieneker has made a court appearance or obtained an attorney. A motive has not been determined and it's not clear what led to Monday's gunfire. The shooting erupted during a busy time of year for retailers, with back-to-school shopping underway. Police were called at 2.15pm and arrived at the Target parking lot where they found three people shot, Davis said. After shooting Martinez Machuca, Nieneker ran to a black Jeep Cherokee. He began firing as the Jeep attempted to evade the gunfire, Tuesday's police statement said. He then ran up to Chow's car, where he shot him and then fired into the backseat, striking the granddaughter, police said. Nieneker was eventually captured about 32km away in South Austin after someone called police, Davis said. He was taken into custody after being tased. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the shooting "a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence". "This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," he said in a post on X . Target said in a statement it is "devastated by the violence" at the Austin store and is working with law enforcement on the investigation. Lonnie Lee, 22, had visited the Target with her sister and was shocked to see the parking lot was cordoned off and filled with police, she told The Associated Press . "We got really, really lucky," Lee said. "And some people didn't." At a Jiffy Lube shop that shares its parking lot with the Target, employees locked the doors as soon as they became aware of the shooting. Paul Smith, an employee at the oil-change store, saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic, he told the AP. "I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," Smith said. CONTACT US
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Three dead in Texas parking lot shooting, man arrested
A gunman has opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin, killing at least three people, then stole two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the Texas capital. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told a news conference the suspect is a man in his 30s with "a mental health history." Davis said the man fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car then stole another from a dealership. He was captured in south Austin, where he was taken into custody. She said responding officers found three people who had been shot in the Target parking lot. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and one person was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. He said another person was treated on the scene for unrelated injuries. "This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families," Davis said. She said she had no information to release about the victims. Target didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year. "This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X. "While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence." At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place. Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic. "I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," he said. The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26 and has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A gunman has opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin, killing at least three people, then stole two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the Texas capital. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told a news conference the suspect is a man in his 30s with "a mental health history." Davis said the man fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car then stole another from a dealership. He was captured in south Austin, where he was taken into custody. She said responding officers found three people who had been shot in the Target parking lot. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and one person was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. He said another person was treated on the scene for unrelated injuries. "This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families," Davis said. She said she had no information to release about the victims. Target didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year. "This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X. "While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence." At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place. Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic. "I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," he said. The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26 and has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A gunman has opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin, killing at least three people, then stole two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the Texas capital. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told a news conference the suspect is a man in his 30s with "a mental health history." Davis said the man fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car then stole another from a dealership. He was captured in south Austin, where he was taken into custody. She said responding officers found three people who had been shot in the Target parking lot. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and one person was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. He said another person was treated on the scene for unrelated injuries. "This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families," Davis said. She said she had no information to release about the victims. Target didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year. "This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X. "While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence." At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place. Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic. "I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," he said. The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26 and has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 A gunman has opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin, killing at least three people, then stole two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the Texas capital. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told a news conference the suspect is a man in his 30s with "a mental health history." Davis said the man fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car then stole another from a dealership. He was captured in south Austin, where he was taken into custody. She said responding officers found three people who had been shot in the Target parking lot. Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and one person was taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. He said another person was treated on the scene for unrelated injuries. "This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families," Davis said. She said she had no information to release about the victims. Target didn't immediately respond to a request seeking comment. The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year. "This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X. "While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence." At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place. Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic. "I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before," he said. The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man stabbed 11 people at the store in Traverse City on July 26 and has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Canberra Times
a day ago
- Canberra Times
Three dead in Texas parking lot shooting, man arrested
A gunman has opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin, killing at least three people, then stole two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the Texas capital.
