Crime
Austin Target shooting suspect identified as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Authorities have identified 32-year-old Ethan Blaine Nieneker as the suspect in a deadly shooting that left three people dead and one injured, including a child, at a Target parking lot in north Austin on Monday afternoon.
Nieneker, described by police as a dangerous habitual offender with a prior criminal history in Texas, was taken into custody following a multi-vehicle carjacking spree and a police pursuit.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the first 911 call reporting the shooting came in at approximately 2:15 p.m.
Officers arrived at the Target located at 8601 Research Boulevard by 2:19 p.m., where they discovered four victims who had been shot in the store’s parking lot.
Three of those victims — whose names and ages have not yet been released — were pronounced dead at the scene.
The fourth victim, a child, sustained injuries but survived.
Police said Nieneker, described as a white male wearing khaki shorts and a Hawaiian-style shirt, opened fire on shoppers before carjacking a vehicle in the parking lot.
One of the victims is believed to have been the vehicle’s owner.
After fleeing the scene, Nieneker crashed the stolen car and then hijacked a second vehicle from a Volkswagen dealership.
The suspect led officers on a pursuit spanning approximately 18 miles before being intercepted by police on La Costa Drive, in south Austin.
Officers deployed a Taser to subdue Nieneker, who was taken into custody without further gunfire.
APD Chief Lisa Davis confirmed in a late-afternoon press briefing that the suspect’s motive remains under investigation but noted he was already known to police and had documented mental health concerns.
She also emphasized that charges against him are pending.
Due to the ongoing investigation, vehicles parked at the Target remain inaccessible until crime scene processing is complete.
Police have urged the public to avoid the area, citing road closures in the 8000 block of MoPac Southbound Frontage Road between Executive Center Drive and Anderson Lane.
Anyone with additional information regarding the shooting is encouraged to contact APD or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Crime
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. — Five people were reportedly killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, according to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement.
The reported shooting prompted a major emergency response involving police, fire crews, and emergency medical services.
Authorities issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m., warning of a large police presence at the elementary school and urging the public to avoid the area.
According to the information provided, four victims were killed at the school. Three of those victims were children, while the fourth was an adult. The suspected gunman, described in preliminary reports as a teenager, was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the suspect, had not been fully established in the information available.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspected gunman was a teenager and was killed after being confronted by a Good Samaritan.
Earlier scanner traffic reportedly indicated that the suspect had been neutralized. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the individual who intervened may have been a father of a student at the school.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or independently verified the reported identity and role of the person who intervened.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, how the suspect was stopped, and whether the suspect acted alone.
The first police alert was issued at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday. It described a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and instructed the public to stay away from the area.
Fire and emergency medical services personnel were seen responding near the school as authorities worked to address the reported threat and assist those affected.
The shooting prompted urgent concern among families and the surrounding community, particularly after reports indicated that children were among the victims.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced a reunification site for students and their families at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 in Bend, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Parents and guardians were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with students and receive further information.
Authorities urged families to follow official instructions and avoid approaching the school while emergency operations continued.
The reported shooting also prompted precautionary security measures at nearby schools. Parents received alerts indicating that Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School had been placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
The lockdowns were reported as law enforcement responded to Silver Rail Elementary and worked to secure the surrounding area.
Further information was needed to establish how long the lockdowns remained in effect and when normal school operations resumed.
Although preliminary information indicated five deaths, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, additional official confirmation is needed regarding the victims’ identities, the suspect’s identity, and the circumstances of the shooting.
The reported involvement of a Good Samaritan also requires confirmation from investigators.
This remains a developing story. Further details should be added as law enforcement and school officials release verified information about the shooting and the investigation.