AUSTIN (KXAN) — The man accused of killing three people on Aug. 11 in the parking lot of a north Austin shopping center is facing additional charges, according to Travis County court records.
Ethan Nieneker, 32, already faced charges of Capital Murder by Terror Threat, Capital Murder of a person under 10, and first-degree murder. Nieneker is now facing a total of eight charges, including attempted murder and aggravated robbery, records state.
Police previously identified the victims as 24-year-old Target employee Rosa Martinez Machuca, Adam Chow, 66, and Chow’s 4-year-old granddaughter.
KXAN previously reached out to Nienecker’s attorney for additional information and to request a comment on the charges. This story will be updated when we receive a response.
Timeline
2:15 p.m.
Just after 2 p.m., the Austin Police Department responded to a shooting at the Target located at 8601 Research Blvd.
According to police, officers found three people with gunshot wounds in the parking lot. The shooting did not occur inside the store, APD said. A fourth person was treated for unrelated injuries, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.
When detectives arrived at the Target, they found 40 fired cartridge cases, according the arrest warrant affidavit.
Nieneker stole a gray Toyota 4-Runner and fled the scene, according to APD.
2:20 p.m.
APD said Nieneker found a water truck parked alongside the 7800 block of Mopac Expressway around 2:20 p.m. and “repeatedly assaulted the driver before pushing him out of the vehicle.”
Nieneker attempted to put the truck into drive but couldn’t, 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 driving off, according to APD.
2:25 p.m.
At approximately 2:25 p.m., APD received a call reporting a multiple-vehicle crash. According to APD, Nieneker crashed the 4-Runner into a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV.
APD said Nieneker exited the vehicle and went over to the Volkswagen, opened the door and “repeatedly assaulted the female driver of the Volkswagen” before pushing her out and stealing the Volkswagen and fleeing the scene.
KXAN was at that scene, off the frontage road between Executive Center Drive and Anderson Lane, where a black SUV had crashed into several parked vehicles and was resting on top of another.
2:34 p.m.
APD said a suspect matching Nieneker’s description exited the stolen Volkswagen and went up to a Waymo vehicle and attempted to break into it around 2:34 p.m. It did not work, so Nieneker returned to the stolen Volkswagen and drove away.
2:37 p.m.
An “acquaintance” who knew Nieneker through bible study reported that Nieneker had thrown a brick through his residence in the 2100 block of La Casa Drive.
Ethan told police he went to a friend’s house. He said when that friend did not let him inside, Nieneker broke their window, according to documents.
Around 3 p.m.
At 2:58 p.m., APD got a call about a naked male walking through a backyard in the 2400 block of La Casa Drive.
APD said Nieneker was seen running into a porta-potty and then leaving on foot.
Officers located Nieneker walking naked on Montclaire Street and issued commands. APD said Nieneker did not comply, so he was tased and taken into custody at 3:06 p.m.
Officers checked the area and found clothing in the porta-potty that matched the description of what Nieneker was previously wearing.
Ethan told police the reason he undressed in the porta-potty was not to conceal evidence, but to “put things he loved in a disgusting place,” according to the arrest warrant affidavit.