{"id":2473963,"date":"2025-08-12T18:39:40","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T22:39:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/target-gunman-who-killed-three-thought-he-was-jesus-police-say-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T19:10:22","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T23:10:22","slug":"target-gunman-who-killed-three-thought-he-was-jesus-police-say-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/target-gunman-who-killed-three-thought-he-was-jesus-police-say-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Target gunman who killed three thought he was Jesus, police say &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftarget-gunman-who-killed-three-thought-he-was-jesus-police-say-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2473963&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A gunman named Ethan Nieneker,32,opened fire in a Target parking lot in Austin,Texas,killing three people,including a 4-year-old girl and her grandfather. Police reported that Nieneker believed he was Jesus Christ. After the shooting, he stole the grandfather&#8217;s car and attempted to escape, crashing the vehicle before stealing another car. He was later <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cleveland-browns-defensive-tackle-arrested-charged-with-public-exposure-and-attacking-police-officer\/\" title=\"Cleveland Browns Defensive Tackle Arrested, Charged With Public Exposure And Attacking ... Officer\">found walking naked<\/a> with a Bible and refusing to comply with officers, requiring tasering to be subdued. Police revealed he had a history of mental illness and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/n-m-widower-sues-alburquerque-over-sanctuary-city-policy\/\" title=\"N.M. widower sues Alburquerque over sanctuary city policy\">extensive criminal record<\/a>, including arrests for domestic violence and assault. The incident was described as an unprovoked and intentional act of violence in broad daylight.  <\/p>\n<div id=\"ld-4686-3758\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:14832835450050406,size:[0, 0],id:\"ld-4686-3758\"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.decide.dev\/_js\/ajs.js\";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,\"script\",\"ld-ajs\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Target gunman who killed 4-year-old and her grandfather thought he was Jesus, police say<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2201358\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The suspected gunman who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3496829\/target-shooting-parking-lot-austin-texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"murdered three people\">murdered three people<\/a> in an Austin, Texas, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/target\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"murdered three people\">Target<\/a> parking lot believed he was Jesus Christ, police said.<\/p>\n<p>Ethan Nieneker, 32, opened fire at bystanders randomly on Monday, killing a worker gathering shopping carts, a 4-year-old, and her grandfather. He then stole the latter&rsquo;s car and attempted a getaway, crashing, then stealing another car. Police found him walking naked with a Bible, telling officers he wouldn&rsquo;t comply before being tased and subdued by police. <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3497558\/paxton-beto-orourke-pac-payments-jail-democrats-texas\/\">Ken Paxton working to put Beto O&#8217;Rourke &#8216;behind bars&#8217; for PAC payments to Texas Democrats<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3497211\/ice-applicants-increase-hiring-illegal-immigration\/\">ICE swamped with 100,000 applications in two weeks since announcing hiring blitz<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3497153\/teens-charged-doge-staffer-attack-kept-in-custody\/\">Teens charged in DOGE staffer attack will be kept in custody<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>At a press conference, police revealed that Nieneker had a history of mental illness, even believing himself to be the Messiah.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Austin Police hold a news conference at APD Headquarters regarding Monday&rsquo;s deadly shooting at Target, on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;What happened yesterday was an unprovoked and deliberate attack, a deliberate act of violence,&rdquo; Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference. &ldquo;Innocent lives were taken in broad daylight in a place where people should feel safe to run their everyday errands and to live their everyday lives.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She added that she wasn&rsquo;t aware of a specific mental health diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>Police were first made aware of his self-perception during his arrest, when he had to be tased while naked due to noncompliance.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3496829\/target-shooting-parking-lot-austin-texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"THREE PEOPLE KILLED IN TARGET PARKING LOT SHOOTING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS\">THREE PEOPLE KILLED IN TARGET PARKING LOT SHOOTING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He said that he was Jesus,&rdquo; Austin police Sgt. Nathan Sexton said.<\/p>\n<p>Court records obtained by the <em>Associated Press<\/em> showed that Nieneker had an extensive criminal history. He&rsquo;s previously been arrested several times on charges of domestic violence, assault, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-law-enforcement-officials-shut-down-antifa-counter-protest-of-protect-texas-kids-demonstration\/\" title=\"... Law Enforcement Officials Shut Down Antifa Counter-Protest Of \u2018Protect ... Kids\u2019 Demonstration\">assault causing bodily injury<\/a>. Despite this, he only appears to have served a brief jail sentence in 2016 over his <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >assault causing bodily injury charge<\/a> against a family member.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2201358\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2201358\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Target shooter who killed child, grandfather claimed to be Jesus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2473965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Target-gunman.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[61152,32747,44888,61151,32076],"class_list":["post-2473963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-believed-he-was-jesus","tag-mass-shooting","tag-police-report","tag-target-gunman","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Target-gunman.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2473963"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2473981,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473963\/revisions\/2473981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2473965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2473963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2473963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2473963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}