Monday’s tragic shooting outside a North Austin Target store that claimed three lives, including a 4-year-old girl and her grandfather, continued to send shockwaves through the city.
The Victims
The shooting claimed the lives of three innocent people: 24-year-old Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 65-year-old Adam Chow and Chow’s 4-year-old granddaughter. The child and her grandfather were pronounced dead on the scene. Another adult, a Target employee, died after being transported to a hospital.
Timeline of Events
Approximately 2:20 PM: 32-year-old Ethan 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.
Approximately 2:25 PM: 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 PM: 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 PM, 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 PM: 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.
9:45 PM: Nieneker was booked into the Travis County Jail.
The Suspect: Ethan Nieneker
The Austin Police Department identified the suspect as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker. Nieneker has a history of assault family violence, criminal mischief, DWI and possession.
Criminal History
The suspect in the shooting outside a North Austin Target had a history of mental health issues and frequent run-ins with law enforcement since at least 2012, according to a police statement and court records from Travis and Williamson counties.
Ethan Nieneker, a 32-year-old white man, spent time behind bars in 2016 and 2017 for family violence, driving while intoxicated and violating the terms of his bond or protective order, court records show.
APD Chief Lisa Davis said Nieneker has a history of mental health issues, and Officials had previously said that the suspect had a history of mental health issues with APD saying that he “does have a rap sheet with us”.
Charges Filed
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.
Official Response
Mayor Kirk Watson
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed his grief and outrage over the senseless violence. In a post on X, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson called the attack a “devastating situation”. “My heart is with the victims and their families,” he said. “While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I’ll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence”.
Police Response
Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said that between three and five people were shot in the Target parking lot. The department has described this as an unprovoked, random act of violence that shocked the community.
Community Impact
The shooting has deeply shaken the Austin community, occurring at a busy commercial area during peak shopping hours. The Target store, located on Research Boulevard near Ohlen Road, is a popular shopping destination in North Austin.
This tragic incident adds to a concerning pattern of retail violence across the country. The Target attack 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.
More Central Texas school districts begin the school year today:
Eanes ISD
Leander ISD
Lake Travis ISD
Dripping Springs ISD
Bastrop ISD
Elgin ISD
Hays ISD
Pflugerville ISD
Austin ISD schools open next week. The district is reviewing a consolidation plan for 2026-2027 that includes potential school closures, boundary adjustments, and other changes to address enrollment trends, facility needs, and budget considerations.
400 Hays CISD students, including 200 from Kyle Elementary, lost bus service due to reclassification of routes as safe, based on updated hazardous routes list.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is asking parents to make appointments now to get their children immunized against all CDC-recommended diseases.
Students returning to the classroom for the new school year must be up-to-date on vaccine requirements.
Austin City Council meets today to consider placing a property tax increase measure on the November 2025 ballot to address the city’s financial challenges. The council has set the maximum they can ask voters to increase property taxes at 8 cents, which would cost an extra $421 annually for the average homeowner. This potential voter-approved measure would help plug Austin’s $33 million deficit and fund the proposed $6.3 billion budget
Today’s main topics of discussion include:
Budget and Finance (Items 1-10)
- Adopting the property tax rate for Fiscal Year 2025-2026
- Rate and fee changes for Austin Water and Austin Energy utilities
- Approving the overall city budget for FY 2025-2026
- Setting various city fees, fines, and charges
- Authorizing a special election on November 4, 2025 for voters to approve a property tax rate that exceeds the voter approval rate
Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes of District 2 talks about whether she’s for or against a tax rate election.
Public Safety Staffing (Items 6-8)
- Establishing job classifications and positions for Austin Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, and Austin Police Department
Council-Sponsored Resolutions (Items 11-25)
- Transparency and Accountability: Monthly overtime reports for public safety departments, homelessness services dashboard
- Parks and Recreation: Creating a Parks Maintenance Fund, exploring parks districts, fee structures for park maintenance
- Housing and Homelessness: Expanding childcare fee waivers, additional family shelter capacity
- Environmental/Climate Initiatives: Climate revolving fund, solar panel recycling, evaluating city lands for carbon sequestration and renewable energy
- Public Safety: Studying consolidation of 911 dispatch services
- Community Services: Food pantries at Title I schools, animal spay/neuter policies
- Development and Fees: Reviewing development and permitting fees, airport revenue sources
Administrative Items
- Housing Finance Corporation service agreement
- IT department merger (Information Security Office with Communications and Technology Management)
- Board meetings for Austin Housing Finance Corporation and Mueller Local Government Corporation
WATCH THE MEETING LIVE HERE.
TxDOT reports progress on the rebuilding of Cow Creek Bridge in northwestern Travis County.
More than a month after the devastating Fourth of July weekend floods, the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Travis County will close after today.
A teenager was arrested on Monday and charged with murder in the shooting of his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend in East Austin, police said Tuesday.
Authorities in Hutto dealt with a barricade situation Tuesday.
The Williamson County Fire Marshal’s Office arrested a man on arson charges following a residential blaze in the unincorporated area served by the Hutto Fire Department. (CBS Austin)
A woman is facing charges including intoxication manslaughter after she crashed into two vehicles on Ranch Road 165 in Blanco County Sunday.
The water-filled plastic barriers on 6th Street in downtown Austin are going to be replaced with concrete ones this week.
When Austin-Bergstrom International Airport opens its new second terminal in a few years, Southwest Airlines wants to be its dominant carrier. (Austin Business Journal)
WEATHER
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
TROPICAL OUTLOOK
Erin is forecast to become a major hurricane and cruise the waters between Bermuda and the United States next week. Even if a direct hit does not occur in the U.S., seas and surf will pose serious threats to coastal areas.
The Texas Senate held a packed floor session Tuesday to pass a variety of Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session priorities — despite dozens of House Democrats remaining out of state.
The Texas Legislature is preparing to adjourn early this week amid a continued quorum break by House Democrats. But Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll “immediately” call lawmakers back to the state Capitol for another special session.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday asked a Tarrant County judge to jail former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, claiming the Democrat violated a previous order saying he cannot financially support Texas Democrats who left the state to delay passage of a new congressional map.
The Texas Senate on Tuesday advanced a proposal to scrap STAAR, the end-of-the-year state standardized test that parents and teachers widely criticize for putting enormous pressure on students. (Texas Tribune)
With college tuition payment deadlines only days away for the fall semester, lawyers seeking to restore enforcement of the Texas Dream Act are again asking a district judge to let them contest the ruling that overturned the law. (Austin American-Statesman)
Gov. Greg Abbott has asked for a disaster declaration for Uvalde County in the aftermath of the July floods.
The FEMA disaster declaration has designated 21 Texas counties as eligible for public assistance for emergency work and infrastructure repairs and 10 counties for individual assistance to households.
After an obviously difficult summer, students in Kerrville return to class today.
Kerrville officials are in need of workers to clear debris from the Guadalupe River flooding disaster.
Along the Guadalupe River, more than a dozen summer camps have structures in flood zones. (Texas Tribune)
Officials in Bexar County are looking for a suspect in an aggrevated assault.
The Texas Department of Safety announced the capture of a fugitive from justice.
Also…
In Bexar County…
Former Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzalez’s attorney is seeking a venue change for his trial on multiple child endangerment charges related to the 2022 school shooting, arguing that local media coverage has prejudiced potential jurors in Uvalde County.
A huge $500 million mixed-use project planned in San Marcos appears to include plans to build a baseball stadium. (Austin Business Journal)
University of Houston law professor David Froomkin helps break down the legal cases seeking to remove 13 Democrats from the Texas House.
A North Texas high school athlete died after collapsing while exercising. Julian Gilbert’s friends and family are now trying to come to terms with his death and looking for answers.
SPORTS
MLB: L’s for Texas’ two teams last night.
RANGERS NEWS:
A few weeks ago, Rowdy Tellez, one of the newest Texas Rangers, went on a Dallas radio show for an introductory interview on the team’s official radio station.
It didn’t go smoothly. (WFAA-TV)
ASTROS NEWS:
The Houston Astros placed closer Josh Hader on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder strain Tuesday, a significant blow to a team in the midst of a division race. (Sporting News via MSN)
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Texas Longhorns, fresh off the first No. 1 ranking in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll in program history, finds itself a 2.5-point underdog to No. 3 Ohio State for their Week 1 showdown in Columbus. (ESPN)
NFL: Sounds from the Sideline: CeeDee Lamb at Joint Practice vs Rams
How concerning are the Houston Texans injuries after losing Brevin Jordan for the season? Is CJ Stroud ranked as a top 40 player in the NFL 100 fair?
Relax at the beach while honing your sandcastling skills, see how a tiny chapel is spreading kindness, & stop by a place that’s become a safe haven for families of the incarcerated.
