Monday’s tragic shooting outside a North Austin Target store that claimed three lives, including a 4-year-old girl and her grandfather, continued to send shockwaves through the city.
The Victims
The shooting claimed the lives of three innocent people: 24-year-old Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, 65-year-old Adam Chow and Chow’s 4-year-old granddaughter. The child and her grandfather were pronounced dead on the scene. Another adult, a Target employee, died after being transported to a hospital.
Timeline of Events
Approximately 2:20 PM: 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker found a water truck parked alongside the 7800 block of Mopac Expressway. He opened the driver’s door and repeatedly assaulted the driver before pushing him out of the vehicle.
He attempted to put the truck into drive but was unable to. He then jumped out of the truck and chased a male with a pistol in his hand before running back to the stolen 4-Runner and drove off.
Approximately 2:25 PM: APD received the call of a multiple-vehicle crash as the stolen 4-Runner crashed into a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV. Nieneker exited the vehicle and went over to the Volkswagen, opened the door and repeatedly assaulted the female driver of the Volkswagen. He pushed the female driver of the Volkswagen out and then drove off…