The suspect in the shooting outside a North Austin Target had a history of mental health issues and frequent run-ins with law enforcement since at least 2012, according to a police statement and court records from AGÕæÈË°Ù¼ÒÀÖ and Williamson counties.
Ethan Nieneker, a 32-year-old white man, spent time behind bars in 2016 and 2017 for family violence, driving while intoxicated and for violating the terms of his bond or protective order, court records show.
At least two other family violence charges in AGÕæÈË°Ù¼ÒÀÖ County were dismissed; the last charge from 2019 was dismissed three years ago because the victim was unable to be contacted. Nieneker was also charged with marijuana possession and vandalism.
Nieneker is accused of killing three people in a Target parking lot on Monday afternoon. He used a semi-automatic rifle, according to Texas Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin).
Police were called to the scene at 2:15 p.m. Monday, and officers arrived within 4 minutes, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said. Austin-AGÕæÈË°Ù¼ÒÀÖ County EMS arrived shortly after.
One adult and one child were pronounced dead on scene. A third victim died after being transported to a hospital.
Davis said the department does not know the motive for the shooting at this time.
Davis said Nieneker “has a rap sheet� with the department and has been placed in emergency detention holds. , officials can place people in these emergency holds at psychiatric facilities when there is evidence of “imminent, substantial risk of serious harm to self or others.�
Generally, people convicted of domestic violence cannot legally possess firearms .
A coworker of the suspect who asked not to be named for fear of losing their job said Nieneker had a noticeable change in behavior at his shift on Saturday evening.
“He started to ramble on about how in the past few days he has had a revelation and felt as though he was chosen and felt like a new man, the coworker told KUT News, adding that Nieneker said he had not eaten in several days “in an attempt to become closer to his higher power.�
“It just struck me as very manic.� the coworker said. “The way he was speaking was kind of fast and declarative. It struck me as very concerning just because it was such a stark difference from the Ethan I had worked with the previous weekend.�
APD is holding a press conference about the incident at 2 p.m.
