Austin police have identified 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker as the suspect responsible for a deadly shooting that left three people dead in a Target parking lot at 8601 Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in North Austin, on Monday afternoon.
The tragic incident unfolded shortly after 2:15 p.m. when emergency dispatchers received reports of gunfire at the busy retail location. According to Austin Police Department (APD) Chief Lisa Davis, officers arrived swiftly to find multiple victims at the scene. Two individuals were pronounced dead at the location, while a third was rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to their injuries. Fortunately, a fourth person present sustained unrelated injuries and was treated on site, surviving the ordeal.
Chief Davis revealed that Nieneker has a documented history of mental health challenges, which have become a focus of ongoing investigations. Following the initial shooting, Nieneker fled the scene in a vehicle he had carjacked from the Target parking lot. Police believe that one of the victims was the original driver of this stolen vehicle.
Nieneker’s escape was short-lived. He crashed the stolen car and subsequently stole another vehicle from a nearby car dealership. Officers located him in the 2400 block of La Casa Drive in South Austin, where he was subdued using a Taser and taken into custody without further incident.
The shooting forced an immediate lockdown of the Target parking lot, preventing shoppers and employees from accessing their vehicles throughout the afternoon. Police later announced that vehicle retrieval would be permitted starting at 10 p.m., once the crime scene was secured and investigators completed critical work.
In response to the tragedy, Target Corporation released a heartfelt statement expressing devastation over the violence at their Austin store. The company extended deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims and offered support to their local employees affected by the incident. Target pledged to work closely with law enforcement during the investigation and committed to providing grief counseling and other support services to their team in the coming days.
Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz praised the rapid and coordinated response of first responders, crediting their efforts with preventing additional harm and managing the chaos that followed the shooting.
This violent event has sent shockwaves throughout the Austin community, raising important concerns about public safety and the availability of mental health resources. Authorities are intensively investigating the motive behind the shooting, closely reviewing Nieneker’s mental health history to understand the circumstances that led to such a tragic outcome.
The community continues to mourn the loss of three lives taken far too soon during what was intended to be a routine shopping trip. Law enforcement officials and Target representatives encourage anyone with further information related to the incident to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, counseling services and community outreach efforts have been mobilized to support those impacted by the trauma of this senseless violence.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the critical need for greater awareness, support, and resources surrounding mental health and public safety, as Austin seeks healing and answers in the wake of this devastating event.
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