A quiet Monday afternoon in Austin, Texas, turned into a nightmare when shoppers at a busy Target store suddenly found themselves running for their lives.
By the end of the day, three people were dead, and police had a suspect in custody after a tense multi-mile pursuit across the city.
Suspect Arrested After Deadly Attack
Austin Police have identified the suspect as 32-year-old Ethan Blaine Nieneker, who was booked into custody late Monday.
His newly released mugshot shows him with fresh cuts and bruises, staring straight into the camera.
Authorities say he is the man accused of opening fire outside the Target store on Research Boulevard in northern Austin just after 2 p.m.
Police Chief Lisa Davis told reporters that after the shooting, Nieneker allegedly stole a car from the parking lot — believed to belong to one of the victims — before crashing it.
He then took another vehicle from a nearby Volkswagen dealership and continued fleeing.
Rapid Police Response and Tragic Outcome
Police said the first 911 calls came in about 15 minutes after shots were fired.
Officers arrived within four minutes, finding three victims suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot.
Two were pronounced dead on the scene, and a third died on the way to the hospital.
From there, the chase was on. Officers pursued the suspect for 18 miles through the city, eventually catching him in south Austin, where they deployed a Taser before taking him into custody.
Troubling Past and Social Media Images
According to Chief Davis, Nieneker has both a history of mental illness and a criminal record dating back over a decade.
Court documents show arrests since 2011, including for assaulting a family member, two DWIs, criminal mischief, and violating a protective order.
Images uncovered from his social media show him smiling at parties, wearing a COVID mask by a trash bin, posing with a large leaf, and standing next to a fireplace — an unsettling contrast to the violent events of Monday.
Eyewitness Accounts from a Scene of Chaos
Inside the store, employees and shoppers described moments of panic.
Target worker Freyen Sagastume told KXAN she froze when she first heard gunshots but quickly joined others in getting customers to safety.
“I thought this only happened on the news,” she said.
Nearby at a Jiffy Lube, workers locked the doors and sheltered in place.
Mechanic Paul Smith recalled returning from the Target parking lot just a minute before seeing terrified people running from their cars.
Target’s Response and Support for Staff
A Target spokesperson expressed heartbreak over the violence and confirmed the company will offer grief counseling to employees.
“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 statement read.
The company also praised first responders for acting quickly and promised to continue cooperating with investigators.
Investigation Still Underway
As of now, police have not released the names or ages of the victims, nor have they identified a motive for the attack.
Detectives are continuing to piece together events leading up to the shooting, and updates are expected as the investigation unfolds.
