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Yahoo
3 days 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
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
'Terminator' Target shooter tries to hijack truck 'after executing petrified girl, 4, whose grandpa he'd just killed'
A crazed gunman tried to hijack a water truck minutes after gunning down a four-year-old girl and her grandpa outside a Target store Ethan Blaine Nieneker, 32, was photographed by a passing motorist dramatically stealing the truck at a construction site in north Austin on Monday. Leaning out of the cab, he balanced precariously on the step with one hand holding onto the door while the other clutched a handgun pointed at a worker. Nieneker was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and fluorescent blue and yellow-patterned shorts in the photo as he tried to make a getaway on the Mopac Expressway. Minutes earlier he allegedly shot dead Adam Chow, 65, and his granddaughter Astrid, 4, along with Target worker Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24. Adam was shot first as he sat in the driver's seat, as Astrid watched. Nieneker is then accused of turning his weapon towards Astrid, shooting the little girl at point blank range as she sat in the back seat of her grandpa's car. The shooter did not know either of his victims, investigators say. After shoving Chow's wife Doris, 66, out of the family's grey Toyota 4-Runner, he took off away from the store before trying to switch cars to the water truck. Stricken Doris pulled Astrid from the car in a bid to find help that could save her, but the youngster succumbed to her injuries shortly after. He allegedly attacked the driver and tried pulling him out of the truck, but wasn't able to, instead chasing the truck driver away with his pistol before returning to the Toyota. Chow's family said Astrid was deeply loved by her family, teachers, classmates, friends, and 'all who had the privilege of knowing her'. 'Sweet Astrid brought joy, laughter, and light to everyone she touched,' they said. 'Adam Chow, was a loving husband to Doris, beloved father to Monica and Sophia, and a doting grandfather. He dedicated his life to loving God and loving others.' Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis alleged at a press conference that Nieneker first 'randomly' shot Machuca about 2.15pm as he collected trolleys. Austin homicide detective Nathan Sexton said Nieneker chose his victims 'completely randomly' and used a handgun given to him by a family member. 'He said that he was Jesus and there was no real reason whatsoever given,' he said. After his aborted attempt to steal the truck, he crashed into a Volkswagen about 2.25pm, then allegedly attacked and carjacked the Volkswagen driver. Nieneker only drove that car until 2.34pm when he tried to steal a self-driving Waymo car, but failed and got back in the Volkswagen. Minutes later, a church acquaintance of Nieneker claimed a brick came flying through the window of his house on La Casa Drive after the gunman threw it. Nieneker's alleged rampage continued until 2.58pm when he was spotted walking naked through a backyard down the street from the one he bricked. He was seen running into a 'porta potty', then running away again before police found him, still nude and holding a Bible, and demanded he surrender. When he refused, police fired their tasers and he was arrested at 3.06pm. 'The investigation shows that Nieneker conducted these violent offenses of shooting at multiple victims, killing three victims, and destroying multiple vehicles, in the span of less than one hour,' police said. Chow was pronounced dead at the scene at 2.39pm and his granddaughter at 2.50pm. Doris only suffered minor injuries. Nieneker was charged with two counts of capital murder for Chow and his granddaughter first-degree felony murder of Machuca. His booking photo at the Travis County Jail showed him staring straight at the camera with several fresh cuts on his face. Sexton said Nieneker gave no motive for the shooting and his state of mind at the time was still being investigated. 'We're still looking into the drug portion of it. He could have been under the influence of narcotics, it might not necessarily be all attributed to mental illness, so we're still investigating all of that,' he said. Davis admitted there were failures by authorities to follow up on mental health callouts, which may have prevented the shooting. 'This man had some serious issues, and I think about the systems that failed... there were some serious failures here,' she said. Nieneker had two emergency mental health detentions of up to 72 hours in 2018, but was not committed either time. How Nieneker got the gun, which he left in Chow's car, from a relative is being investigated, and could lead to charges against his family. 'Where does someone with this capacity to do this get a weapon and when does a family members feel comfortable giving someone with these issues a weapon?' Davis said. Nieneker lived alone and worked at a nearby restaurant, police said. Davis said police received calls about the shooting 15 minutes after it began and rushed to the scene within four minutes. Social media photos of Nieneker showed him grinning with friends at social events, posing while wearing a Covid-style mask by a trash bin, and posing beside a fireplace. Another Facebook image showed the alleged gunman holding a large brown leaf in front of his face and creepily peering over it, and a fifth photo had Nieneker wearing an American flag as a bandana. Davis told reporters on Monday evening that Nieneker has a history of mental illness and a prior criminal history on charges including drugs and assault.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
4-year-old girl killed in Target shooting
A tragic image showed the 4-year-old girl who was tragically shot dead by a crazed gunman outside of Target moments after she watched her grandfather murdered. Astrid Chow was shot in front of her grandmother along with grandfather Adam Chow, 65, in the parking lot of the Target in Austin. The shooter- 32-year-old Ethan Blaine Nieneker - also killed Target worker Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 24. Nieneker was subdued by police tasers as he ran naked out of a 'porta potty' after he fled the store in northern Austin on Monday. Chief Lisa Davis alleged at a press conference on Tuesday that Nieneker first 'randomly' shot Machuca about 2.15pm as he collected trolleys. The Hawaiian shirt-wearing gunman then fired at a black jeep that tried to evade his shot, before turning his gun on Chow's grey Toyota 4-Runner. Chow was shot in the driver's seat, then Nieneker fired into the back seats - hitting the granddaughter Astrid, Davis alleged. The mortally wounded grandfather's wife Doris tried to carry the girl to safety, when Nieneker pushed them out of the car and drove away. Austin homicide detective Nathan Sexton said Nieneker chose his victims 'completely randomly' and used a handgun given to him by a family member. 'He said that he was Jesus and there was no real reason whatsoever given,' he said. About 2.20pm he pulled up next to a water truck parked by the side of the Mopac Expressway, allegedly bashed its driver, and pulled him out of the vehicle. Nieneker tried to drive the truck away but wasn't able to, instead chasing the truck driver away with his pistol before returning to the Toyota. Five minutes later he crashed into a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV, then allegedly attacked and carjacked the Volkswagen driver. Nieneker only drove that car until 2.34pm when he tried to steal a Waymo car, but failed and got back in the Volkswagen. Minutes later, a church acquaintance of Nieneker claimed a brick came flying through the window of his house on La Casa Drive after the gunman threw it. Nieneker's alleged rampage continued until 2.58pm when he was spotted walking naked through a backyard down the street from the one he bricked. He was seen running into a 'porta potty', then running away again before police found him, still nude and holding a Bible, and demanded he surrender. When he refused, police fired their tasers and he was arrested at 3.06pm. 'The investigation shows that Nieneker conducted these violent offenses of shooting at multiple victims, killing three victims, and destroying multiple vehicles, in the span of less than one hour,' police said. Chow was pronounced dead at the scene at 2.39pm and his granddaughter at. 2.50pm. Doris only suffered minor injuries. Nieneker was charged with two counts of capital murder for Chow and his granddaughter first-degree felony murder of Machuca. His booking photo at the Travis County Jail showed him staring straight at the camera with several fresh cuts on his face. Sexton said Nieneker gave no motive for the shooting and his state of mind at the time was still being investigated. 'We're still looking into the drug portion of it. He could have been under the influence of narcotics, it might not necessarily be all attributed to mental illness, so we're still investigating all of that,' he said. Davis admitted there were failures by authorities to follow up on mental health callouts, which may have prevented the shooting. 'This man had some serious issues, and I think about the systems that failed... there were some serious failures here,' she said. Nieneker had two emergency mental health detentions of up to 72 hours in 2018, but was not committed either time. How Nieneker got the gun, which he left in Chow's car, from a relative is being investigated, and could lead to charges against his family. 'Where does someone with this capacity to do this get a weapon and when does a family members feel comfortable giving someone with these issues a weapon?' Davis said. Nieneker lived alone and worked at a nearby restaurant, police said. Davis said police received calls about the shooting 15 minutes after it began and rushed to the scene within four minutes. Social media photos of Nieneker showed him grinning with friends at social events, posing while wearing a Covid-style mask by a trash bin, and posing beside a fireplace. Another Facebook image showed the alleged gunman holding a large brown leaf in front of his face and creepily peering over it, and a fifth photo had Nieneker wearing an American flag as a bandana. Davis told reporters on Monday evening that Nieneker has a history of mental illness and a prior criminal history. Records obtained by the Daily Mail showed he was arrested numerous times since 2011, serving short stints in jail for some of them. Nieneker began with two days in jail for marijuana possession in 2011, then two years probation (which was later revoked) for felony criminal mischief. Just five weeks later, he was jailed for 120 days for a DWI, and two family violence charges were dismissed. The next year he faced court for felony domestic assault, which was reduced to misdemeanor with a deferred adjudication in a pela deal. But he couldn't stay out of trouble so he served 45 days in jail and two years of probation for that crime. Two months later, in July 2016, he was jailed for 60 days for breaching a protection order, and another 90 days from May 2017 for a second DWI. Finally, in 2019, a felony domestic assault charge - which could have led to a long sentence as a repeat offender - was abandoned in 2022 when the victim couldn't be found. He spent time in jail for skipping bail during the case. Relative calm followed and Nieneker didn't pick up another charge before his alleged Target rampage, and friends thought he may have turned a corner. 'I went to high school with Ethan. Hung out with him on the 4th of July this year, first time seeing him in a few years,' a friend shared online. 'Used to see him every now and again at this popular swimming spot in Austin. I was pretty optimistic about him when I saw him on the 4th. 'He had become sober and we talked for a while about him wanting to learn more technical things and try to build a technical career working with circuitry and wiring. Overall normal and positive interaction. 'Blew my mind seeing this news today.' Shoppers and employees at Target said they ran for cover when they heard gunshots ring out in the parking lot. '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,' Target employee Freyen Sagastume 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 said. Target said it would provide counseling to staff struggling with witnessing 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 company said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
'He said that he was Jesus': Police release details on deadly Texas Target shooting
The man suspected of fatally shooting three people, including a child, in a Target parking lot in Austin, Texas, told police that he was Jesus and obtained a firearm through a family member despite a history of mental health issues, authorities said. Police identified the shooter as Ethan Nieneker, 32, and said that he began his attack by fatally shooting Target employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca as he collected shopping carts on Aug. 11. Nieneker then ran up to a gray Toyota 4-Runner, and fatally shot Adam Chow and his 4-year-old granddaughter before pushing Chow's wife from the vehicle, police said in a news release. Chow's wife survived with minor injuries. "What happened yesterday was an unprovoked and deliberate attack, a deliberate act of violence," Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said on Aug. 12. "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." USA TODAY is working to reach an attorney or family member who can speak on Nieneker's behalf. Chaotic timeline following deadly Target shooting Following the killings at 2:15 p.m. CT, police say that Nieneker stole Chow's car and made a chaotic getaway, assaulting multiple people and stealing cars along the way. Here's a timeline released by authorities: 2:20 p.m.: Driving the 4-Runner, police said Nieneker came across a parked water truck, opened the driver's door, assaulted the driver, and threw him out of the vehicle before trying to drive it. Unable to figure out how to operate the truck, authorities said he then chased a man, pistol in hand, before returning to the 4-Runner and driving off. 2:25 p.m.: Police said Nieneker crashed the 4-Runner into a Volkswagen and landed on top of an SUV. He then jumped out of the 4-Runner, assaulted the Volkswagen's driver, pushed her out of the car, and drove off. 2:34 p.m.: According to police, Nieneker ran up to a Waymo vehicle and unsuccessfully tried to break in before he got back in the Volkswagen and drove away. 2:37 p.m.: Police said Nieneker threw a brick through a window of the home of someone he knew through Bible study. 2:58 p.m.: Austin police received a call from a South Austin resident who reported seeing a man run into a porta potty and then leave naked. 3:06 p.m.: Police found Nieneker, naked and holding a Bible. They said he failed to comply with their commands, so they used a Taser stun gun on him and arrested him. They found clothing inside the porta potty matching the Target shooting suspect's attire, including a Hawaiian shirt. Charges, motive, and what we know about Ethan Nieneker Davis said Nieneker worked at a local restaurant and lived alone. He's been charged with two counts of capital murder and first-degree felony murder. Police said he will face more charges related to the subsequent assaults and carjackings. As for a motive, police Sgt. Nathan Sexton said there was "really no reason whatsoever given." "He said that he was Jesus," Sexton said. "It was a completely random choosing of the victims." Sexton said the handgun used in the attack was "acquired through family" and that the department was investigating possible charges against the family member. Davis said Nieneker's history with Austin police included assault causing bodily injury to a family member, driving under the influence, violation of a protective order, marijuana possession, and two mental health reports. "This man had some serious issues, and I think about the systems that failed in a way, as we move forward," she said. "We're looking at this background, and again, this is going to be things that are going to be coming up in the months and the years ahead. There were some serious failures here." 'Pain caused will be felt by our community for years to come' Davis declined to detail who failed Nieneker or exactly how, and said she did not know if he had been officially diagnosed. "What help are they getting when you're dealing with someone with these issues?" Davis asked. "Where does someone with this capacity to do this get a weapon? And when does a family member feel comfortable giving someone with these issues a weapon?" She called the case "a heartbreaking and deeply painful time for our city." "The actions of the suspect showed a complete disregard for human life," she added. "The pain caused will be felt by our community for years to come." Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at and follow her on X at @AmandaLeeUSAT This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas Target shooting: Austin police release details about the attack
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Target shooting suspect Ethan Nieneker's chilling claim after ‘killing 3 at random' as he drips blood in new mugshot
THE man accused of shooting three people dead, including a child, outside of a Target made a disturbing comment about Jesus after the sick crimes. Ethan Blaine Nieneker, 32, grimaced in a bloody mugshot after he allegedly opened fire on a group of people in the parking lot of the Austin, Texas, supermarket on Monday. 7 7 Police said that Nieneker randomly shot 24-year-old Target employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca before rushing over to Adam Chow, 65, and his 4-year-old granddaughter and killing them as he stole their car. The Austin Police Department revealed the victims' identities one day after the crime, and opened up on the suspect's deranged ravings and senseless motive. Speaking to reporters about Nieneker, homicide detective Nathan Sexton said, "He said that he was Jesus and there was no real reason whatsoever given. "It was a completely random choosing of the victims." Cops arrived at the scene at 2:23 pm and found the worker suffering from gunshot wounds, the Austin Police Department said. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but couldn't be saved. Chow and the little girl were declared dead at the scene, and Chow's wife had minor injuries. Police say that Nieneker opened fire on Machuca in the parking lot at around 2:15 pm, and then fired shots at a Jeep as it tried to evade his gunfire. The suspect then allegedly ran up to a Toyota 4-Runner and shot Chow, who was sitting in the front seat, before firing at the little girl in the backseat. Chow's wife grabbed her granddaughter before they were shoved out by Neineker, who stole the car and zoomed away, cops said. Austin Target shooting 'leaves at least three injured with suspect in custody' Around five minutes after the shooting started, the suspect stopped beside a water truck that was parked on the side of a road and allegedly beat the driver and pulled him from the front seat. Cops said that Nieneker tried to put the car in drive, but couldn't, so he went back to the 4-Runner and drove away. He allegedly wrecked that car about five minutes later and then ran to a nearby Volkswagen dealership, where he carjacked another woman and left in her vehicle. Less than ten minutes after this, Nieneker tried to get into a Waymo self-driving car, but that didn't work, so he got back on the road. 7 7 A few minutes later, a friend who knew the suspect told cops that Neineker threw a brick through his residence. The suspect continually zoomed through the center of the city with cops on his trail before someone reported seeing a naked man in their backyard. Officials raced to the area and found Nieneker naked on the street. When he didn't follow their directions, they tased him and put him in cuffs. Cops later found his clothes in a nearby porta-potty. Nieneker was booked on Tuesday and looked battered and bruised in a mugshot taken by the local police department. Austin Police Department's full statement on shooting "On Monday, August 11, 2025, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to calls of multiple shootings at the Target parking lot at 8601 Research Boulevard northbound. Officers arrived to find a male, later identified as Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, in the parking lot. Mr. Martinez Machuca was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased at 3:01 p.m. Officers also located a family including Adam Chow, his wife, and their 4-year-old granddaughter. Adam Chow and his 4-year-old granddaughter were pronounced deceased on scene. Mr. Chow's wife sustained minor injuries. Homicides Detectives and Crime Scene Specialists responded to process the scene and interview witnesses. The investigation showed Ethan Nieneker randomly attacked a Target employee Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca in the parking lot, shooting and killing him as he was collecting shopping carts. Nieneker then ran to a black Jeep Cherokee and began firing as the Jeep attempted to evade the gunfire. Nieneker then ran up to a gray Toyota 4-Runner where he shot Mr. Chow as he sat in the driver seat. He then fired into the backseat, striking the 4-year-old granddaughter. Mr. Chow's wife carried their granddaughter from the vehicle and Nieneker pushed her from the vehicle. Nieneker then drove the Toyota from the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Mr. Chow and the 4-year-old granddaughter were pronounced deceased on scene at 2:39 and 2:50 p.m. At approximately 2:20 p.m. Nieneker found a water truck parked alongside the 7800 block of Mopac Expressway. He opened the driver's door and repeatedly assaulted the driver before pushing him out of the vehicle. He attempted to put the truck into drive but was unable to. He then jumped out of the truck and chased a male with a pistol in his hand before running back to the stolen 4-Runner and drove off. At approximately 2:25 p.m., APD received the call of a multiple-vehicle crash as the stolen 4-Runner crashed into a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV. Nieneker exited the vehicle and went over to the Volkswagen, opened the door and repeatedly assaulted the female driver of the Volkswagen. He pushed the female driver of the Volkswagen out and then drove off. At 2:34 p.m., a suspect matching Nieneker's description exited the stolen Volkswagen and went up to a Waymo vehicle and attempted to break into it. This failed and Nieneker returned to the stolen Volkswagen and drove away. At 2:37 p.m., an acquaintance known to Nieneker through bible study reported that Nieneker had thrown a brick through his residence in the 2100 block of La Casa Drive. At 2:58 p.m., APD received the call of a naked male walking through a backyard in the 2400 block of La Casa Drive. Nieneker was observed running into a 'porta potty' and then leaving on foot. Officers located Nieneker walking naked on Montclaire Street. Nieneker was issued commands, did not comply, was tased and taken into custody at 3:06 p.m. Officers checked the area, and the matching suspect clothing previously captured surveillance was located inside of the "porta potty". The investigation shows that Nieneker conducted these violent offenses of shooting at multiple victims, killing three victims, and destroying multiple vehicles, in the span of less than one hour. Nieneker has been charged with two counts of Capital Murder for the 4-year-old granddaughter and for Adam Chow. He has also been charged for the First-Degree Felony Murder of Mr. Martinez Machuca. Detectives are encouraging anyone who may have photos, videos, or potential evidence, please submit them by clicking here or scanning the QR code below. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting or calling (512) 472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest. This case is being investigated as Austin's 39th, 40th and 41st homicide of 2025." DISTURBING HISTORY Davis said that they knew Nieneker and revealed he had a history of mental health issues. The suspect has an extensive criminal history starting in 2012 when he was arrested and convicted for misdemeanor marijuana possession, ABC affiliate KVUE reported. In 2015, he was arrested for misdemeanor DWI, felony criminal mischief, and assaulting a family member. The following year, Nieneker was arrested and convicted of a felony charge for assaulting his girlfriend. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail and probation for that charge. Also in 2016, he was accused of criminal mischief, but the charge was later dismissed. Later that year, he was arrested and convicted of a felony charge for violating a bond or protective order. In 2017, Nieneker pleaded guilty to a DWI charge and spent 30 days in jail. 7 7 He was accused of attacking his roommate in 2019, but the case was later dismissed. In a Facebook account that appears to belong to Nieneker, the suspect wrote about getting a job as a bartender in 2020. That same year, he penned several posts complaining about people sharing their political opinions. After Tuesday's shooting, Davis said, "This is a very sad day for Austin. It's a very sad day for us all." "Our thoughts are with the families," she added. "This is a tragic time, our thoughts are with the officers, and EMS, and fire that had to come and do the work here at the scene, forensics, everyone that's doing the scene." Nieneker has been charged with two counts of capital murder for allegedly killing the little girl and Chow. He was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Machuca, meaning the killing was deliberate and planned, according to cops.
