AUSTIN, Texas — Authorities have identified the suspect in a deadly mass shooting at a north Austin Target store as 32-year-old Ethan Blaine Nieneker, a man with a lengthy history of violent criminal behavior.
Police say the tragic incident unfolded Sunday afternoon, August 10, when 911 dispatchers received reports of shots fired at the Target located at 8601 Research Boulevard. The call came in at 2:15 p.m., and officers arrived on scene within four minutes. Upon arrival, they discovered three victims suffering from gunshot wounds in the store’s parking lot. All three were pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, Nieneker allegedly fled the area and carjacked two separate vehicles in a desperate attempt to evade capture. A large-scale manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies was launched, and the suspect was eventually apprehended without further incident later that day.
Investigators have described Nieneker as a dangerous, habitual offender with a violent criminal past. While the motive for the attack remains under investigation, police confirmed that the shooting appeared targeted but have not disclosed details about the victims or their connection to the suspect.
“This is an unspeakable act of violence that has shaken our community to its core,” said Austin Police Chief Robin Henderson during a press briefing. “We are grateful to the swift response of our officers and partner agencies that led to the suspect’s capture before more lives were lost.”
The scene around the Target store remained blocked off for several hours as homicide detectives, crime scene technicians, and federal partners processed evidence and reviewed surveillance footage. Authorities are also interviewing witnesses and are urging anyone who was in the area at the time to come forward with information.
The names of the three victims have not yet been released, pending notification of next of kin.
Nieneker is currently being held in custody, facing multiple counts of capital murder, aggravated robbery, and other related charges. He is expected to make his first court appearance in the coming days.
Police are asking anyone with video, photos, or eyewitness accounts of the incident to contact the Austin Police Department Homicide Unit or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
This shooting marks one of the deadliest acts of violence in Austin this year and has reignited community conversations about public safety and crime prevention in public spaces.
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