Crime
Three victims killed in Austin Target shooting identified
AUSTIN, TEXAS — Authorities have released harrowing new details about a violent shooting rampage in north Austin that left three people dead, including a grandfather and his 4-year-old granddaughter, and one other person injured.
Police say the suspect, 32-year-old Ethan Blaine Nieneker, was arrested Monday afternoon following a chaotic series of shootings, carjackings, assaults, and erratic behavior that ended with him being subdued by officers using a Taser.
The victims have been identified as Héctor Leopoldo Martínez Machuca, 24, a Target employee; Adam Chow, 65; and his young granddaughter Astrid Fung.
Authorities allege that during the attack, Nieneker forced the little girl to watch him fatally shoot her grandfather before also killing her.
Chow’s wife was injured but survived.
According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, the violence began at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Monday in the parking lot of the Target store at 8601 Research Boulevard.
Nieneker allegedly shot Machuca as the employee was retrieving shopping carts. Moments later, he fired at a black Jeep attempting to flee before turning his weapon on Chow’s gray Toyota 4Runner.
Police say Chow was shot in the driver’s seat before Nieneker fired into the back seat, striking his granddaughter.
Chow’s wife tried to carry the injured child to safety, but Nieneker allegedly pushed both of them out of the vehicle, took control of the SUV, and sped away.
At around 2:20 p.m., Nieneker approached a water truck stopped along the Mopac Expressway, allegedly assaulted its driver, and attempted to steal the vehicle.
Unable to operate it, he reportedly chased the driver away at gunpoint before returning to the Toyota.
Five minutes later, Nieneker crashed into a Volkswagen and an Infiniti SUV, then allegedly attacked the Volkswagen driver and stole their vehicle.
He drove off, attempted to carjack a self-driving Waymo vehicle, failed, and returned to the stolen Volkswagen.
The suspect’s rampage reportedly continued with property damage. A resident — identified as an acquaintance of Nieneker — claimed a brick was thrown through their window on La Casa Drive.
By 2:58 p.m., witnesses reported seeing Nieneker walking naked through a backyard in the same neighborhood. He then ran into a portable toilet before fleeing again.
Police confronted him minutes later, ordering him to surrender. When he refused, officers deployed Tasers and took him into custody at approximately 3:06 p.m.
Chief Davis confirmed that Nieneker has a documented history of mental illness and an extensive criminal record dating back to 2011.
Prior arrests include assaulting a family member, driving while intoxicated (twice), criminal mischief, and violating a protective order.
Officers arrived at the Target parking lot within four minutes of the initial 911 call. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third died at a local hospital.
A surviving victim, Chow’s wife, is receiving medical treatment.
Target issued a public statement expressing grief over the tragedy:
“We are devastated by the violence that occurred today at our store in Austin, Texas. Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin, and all those impacted by this tragedy. We are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly at the scene and will continue providing support and grief counseling to our team members.”
The investigation remains active, and police have not yet disclosed a motive for the attack.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Austin Police Department Homicide Detectives or submit tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.