Who is Ethan Nieneker? Austin Target triple murder suspect with history of assaults and mental health issues

Austin police have released a photograph of 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker, the suspect in Monday’s August 11 deadly shooting at a Target store in North Austin, showing him with a bloodied and bruised face following his arrest. In an X post, it said, ‘UPDATE: The suspect in yesterday’s triple homicide has been identified as Ethan Nieneker, White male, 32 years of age.’

The Texas Target attack left three people dead, including a child, during the busy back-to-school shopping rush.

Authorities say Nieneker opened fire in the store’s parking lot, killing two people on the spot and fatally injuring a third who later died in the hospital.


He allegedly fled in a stolen car, crashed it, then stole another vehicle before being apprehended in South Austin after an officer used a Taser.

“This is a very sad day for Austin,” Police Chief Lisa Davis told reporters in a press conference that afternoon.

According to a report by the Independent, during the chaotic shooting incident, police evacuated Target shoppers to a nearby PetSmart. Officials advised the public to stay away from the area.

Cars in the Target parking lot were temporarily held while police conducted their investigation.

Who is Ethan Nieneker?

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis told reporters that the suspected shooter, Ethan Nieneker, has a history of mental health issues and a criminal record with the department.

According to official records cited by multiple local outlets, Nieneker has been booked into the Travis County Jail on charges of capital murder by terror threat, capital murder of a person under 10 years old, and first-degree murder.

CBS affiliate KEYE reported that Nieneker has faced at least six previous charges in Travis County and five in nearby Williamson County.

These include several cases of assault causing bodily injury in family violence incidents, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated, and violating a protective order. Some of these charges led to jail time, while others were dropped.

The Austin American-Statesman reported that his most recent domestic assault case, from 2019, was dismissed after the victim could not be found.

The newspaper also said Nieneker had previously been placed on “emergency holds”, a type of involuntary detention used when a person in a mental health crisis is considered a danger to themselves or others.

Current charges on Ethan Nieneker

Nieneker is being held in the Travis County Jail on charges of:

• Capital murder by terror threat
  
  
  
• Capital murder of a person under 10 years old
  
  
  
• First-degree murder
  
  
  

The motive for the shooting remains under investigation.