Police identify gunman in Texas Target shooting that left three dead

Daily Mail​

3 days ago

Published: | Updated:
The gunman who opened fire outside of a Target in Texas, killing three people, has been identified as a violent career criminal. Austin Police told the Daily Mail on Monday night Ethan Blaine Nieneker, 32, has been taken into custody in connection with the deadly shooting earlier in the day.
He fled the scene in a vehicle he stole from the parking lot at the Target store on Research Boulevard but quickly crashed the stolen vehicle. At that point, police say Nieneker stole another car from a nearby Volkswagen dealership. But officers were soon able to catch up with him in South Austin, where they deployed a Taser to stop him, before taking him into custody.
Police Chief Lisa Davis noted that he has a history of mental illness and a prior criminal history. Records obtained by the Daily Mail show he has been arrested numerous times since 2011, including an apprehension in August 2015 for assaulting a family member. Nieneker was also previously arrested for driving while intoxicated twice, criminal mischief and a violation of a bond or protective order.
It remains unclear what may have drove Nieneker to open fire outside of the store shortly after 2pm. Medics pronounced two of the victims dead at the scene. A third victim succumbed to their injuries en route to a local hospital. One other victim suffered unrelated injuries and was treated at the scene.
All four victims have not yet been identified, as shoppers and employees at Target told how they had to run for cover. 'I was inside the store, but then I hear on the radio like shots fired, so then they just told us "active shooter..." so we just ran outside, we told guests to get out,' Freyen Sagastume, an employee told KXAN. 'I thought that this only happened like in the news and stuff and then like I kind of just froze at first, but then I saw everyone running.'
Meanwhile, at the nearby Jiffy Lube, employees hunkered down and locked the store's doors when they became aware there was a shooting outside. One mechanic, Paul Smith, told Spectrum Local News 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 recounted.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has been informed of the shooting and is being kept abreast of developments. 'This is a devastating situation and my heart is with the victims and their families,' he wrote 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,' the mayor continued, adding that he is 'grateful for the quick response of our APD officers and other first responders and want to thank them for their actions to apprehend the suspect.'
A spokesperson for Target also said it will be providing counseling to staff members who experienced the shooting. '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,' the spokesperson said.