On August 11, 2025, the city of Austin, Texas, was rocked by a new episode of gun violence that left three people dead-including a Hispanic Target employee-and reignited the national debate over gun access and mental health care failures.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the alleged perpetrator of the attack was Ethan Nieneker, 32, who has an extensive history of mental health incidents and multiple previous interactions with authorities. According to police chief Lisa Davis, Nieneker allegedly obtained the weapon used in the attack through a family member, which also raises questions about possible omissions or negligence in his immediate environment.
Hispanic Target employee was shooting victim
One of the victims was Rosa, whose birth name was Héctor Leopaldo Martínez Machuca, 24 years old.
It was a young worker who was picking up carts in the parking lot of the Target store located on Research Blvd. that day.
The family itself reported that they preferred to refer to him as Rosa Martínez Machuca.
Rosa was a person loved by his peers and worked hard to help his mother, a single mother who raised him with effort and dedication.
Also killed were Adam Chow, 66, and his four-year-old granddaughter.
Both were inside their car when they were attacked for no reason.
Chow’s wife sustained minor injuries after trying to protect the child.
Random attack and chaos in the area
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), the events began around 2:15 p.m., when Nieneker shot Rosa Martinez Machuca for no apparent reason.
He then opened fire on a Jeep Cherokee and subsequently targeted the Chow family’s vehicle.
After shooting at them, the suspect stole the victims’ car and fled.
Minutes later, the attacker staged a series of attempted carjackings, an assault on a woman behind the wheel and finally a multiple car crash that alerted the entire area.
The chase continued to a residential area, where, according to witnesses, he was seen walking naked trying to enter houses.
He was arrested at 3:06 p.m. after receiving an electric shock from the agents.
Discussion of system failures
Chief Davis acknowledged that this case, in which a Hispanic Target employee was the victim of the shooting, exposes serious flaws in prevention mechanisms, both in gun control and in the treatment of mental illness.
When we see this kind of background, it is inevitable to wonder where the system failed
Lisa Davis, APD's chief
Today, the family of Rosa Martinez Machuca faces not only the immense pain of her loss, but also the funeral expenses that this type of tragedy brings with it.
Friends and neighbors have started a fundraising campaign through GoFundMe to support them, and invite the Hispanic community to keep them in their prayers and share the information so that more people can help.
