The suspected gunman who murdered three people in an Austin, Texas, Target parking lot believed he was Jesus Christ, police said.
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’s car and attempted a getaway, crashing, then stealing another car. Police found him walking naked with a Bible, telling officers he wouldn’t comply before being tased and subdued by police.
At a press conference, police revealed that Nieneker had a history of mental illness, even believing himself to be the Messiah.
“What happened yesterday was an unprovoked and deliberate attack, a deliberate act of violence,” Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference. “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.”
She added that she wasn’t aware of a specific mental health diagnosis.
Police were first made aware of his self-perception during his arrest, when he had to be tased while naked due to noncompliance.
THREE PEOPLE KILLED IN TARGET PARKING LOT SHOOTING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
“He said that he was Jesus,” Austin police Sgt. Nathan Sexton said.
Court records obtained by the Associated Press showed that Nieneker had an extensive criminal history. He’s previously been arrested several times on charges of domestic violence, assault, criminal mischief, driving while intoxicated, and assault causing bodily injury. Despite this, he only appears to have served a brief jail sentence in 2016 over his assault causing bodily injury charge against a family member.
