Suspect at Austin Target Shting who killed 3 people was found naked and holding the Bible

The man suspected of Killing three people, including a child, in a shooting on Monday outside a target in Austin, Texas, was identified as Ethan Nieneker, 32, who, according to the police, was found naked, holding a Bible and claiming to be Jesus.

Austin police shared Nieneker’s cup on Tuesday on X, in which he is seen with bruises and blood on his face.

The shooting took place around 2:15 p.m. in the store car park. The agents found three people who had been shot.

Austin police chief Lisa Davis identified the victims on Tuesday as Hector Martinez Machuca, Adam Chow and the 4-year-old Chow granddaughter.

Sgt. Nathan Sexton told journalists that Machuca was a target employee found by police officers and taken to the hospital, where he died. He was in the parking lot collecting carts when Nieneker would have shot him.

Police said Chow was with his wife and granddaughter in their vehicle when Nieneker approached a firearm and shot Chow in the driver’s seat. Nieneker would have shot the granddaughter of Chow, 4, on the rear seat.

Nieneker then stole their gray 4runner Toyota, said the police, and fled before he crushed the vehicle. He would have attacked a driver in a Volkswagen before stealing his car as well.

A firearm was found in the crushed toyota, said Sexton.

Nieneker is accused of capital murder and first degree murder.

Davis said on Monday that Nieneker had a history of mental health problems but had not revealed any detail.

A reason remains under study. Sexton described the shooting as “random” with regard to the victims.

He added that Nieneker told the authorities that “he was Jesus”.

“It’s a very sad day for Austin,” said Davis at a press conference.

Davis added that there were serious system failures leading to the shooting in relation to the problems of mental illness of the suspect.

Nieneker was naked and holding a Bible when the police approached him, said Davis. He was then amazed and placed in police custody.

The mayor of Austin, Kirk Watson, said it was a “devastating situation” and that his “heart was with the victims and their families”.

“Although this remains an active and in progress investigation, what I would say is that it was an act of armed and cowardly violence”, said on x.

Nieneker’s family refused to comment on Tuesday. It is not clear if he has a lawyer.