A four-year-old girl and her grandfather, alongside a retail worker, have been named as the casualties of the fatal shooting at a Target store in Austin, Texas, on Monday.
The accused, 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker, allegedly initially gunned down Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, a Target staff member, whilst he was gathering trolleys in the car park on Monday afternoon, Austin Police Sgt. Nathan Sexton revealed at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Nieneker then allegedly directed his attention towards a family’s vehicle parked in the car park, where the young girl, her grandfather, and his spouse were seated. This tragedy comes as a US serial killer reveals the chilling motive for his deadly attacks.
Adam Chow was named as the grandfather and was fatally wounded alongside his granddaughter, Astrid Chow, before Nieneker allegedly commandeered their vehicle.
Chow’s wife was also wounded during the attack, according to Sexton, reports the Mirror US.
Nieneker allegedly shot Adam Chow, who was seated behind the wheel, first in front of his spouse and granddaughter, before turning the weapon on Astrid, who was positioned in the rear seat, according to officers.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis described it as an “unprovoked and deliberate attack” on “innocent lives,” noting that it occurred “in broad daylight.”
When questioned about whether the suspect provided a motive, Sexton stated, “He said that he was Jesus, and there was really no reason whatsoever given. It was a completely random choosing of the victims.”
The Chow Family issued a statement to ABC News on Tuesday, paying tribute to Adam Chow as the “heart and steady backbone of our family.”
Astrid, who affectionately called her grandfather “GongGong,” was described by her family as a beacon of “pure silliness and joy. She loved singing, dancing, and making us laugh,” the family expressed. “We are broken and miss them both so much.”
After the shooting, Nieneker is alleged to have fled the scene in Chow’s stolen car, embarking on a crime spree that included “causing multiple crashes, assaulting another female driver and stealing her Volkswagen,” attempting to break into a Waymo vehicle, and vandalising the home of a bible study acquaintance, according to Sexton.
Police officers discovered Nieneker naked and were forced to use a Taser to subdue him before arresting him, it was reported.
Nieneker, who was employed at a restaurant and lived alone, reportedly has a troubled history with the Austin Police Department, including assault, driving under the influence, and mental health reports, Davis revealed.
Davis did not provide further details on the mental health issues but stated, “This man had some serious issues,” adding, “There were some serious failures here.”
Nieneker is facing charges including two counts of capital murder and one count of first-degree felony murder, Sexton confirmed.
The firearm used by the suspect “was acquired through family,” Sexton disclosed.
A spokesperson for Target expressed their shock in a statement on Monday, saying, “We are devastated by the violence that occurred today.
“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. “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 counselling, to our team.”
Austin-Travis County EMS initially reported four victims, but this figure was later revised.
