The suspected gunman accused of shooting a child and two adults dead in a Target car park appeared bloodied in a mugshot released by a Texas police force.
Ethan Nieneker, 32, is accused of killing a man, a four-year-old girl and her grandfather in a car park in Austin on Monday.
Austin police shared a mugshot of Mr Nieneker, which shows gashes and bruises around his eyes.
The alleged killer, whom police described as having a “mental health history”, was detained following a police chase that involved two cars he had stolen for his failed getaway.
Officers said he was found naked holding a Bible and claiming to be Jesus.
Mr Nieneker is being held in Travis County Jail on murder charges.
Nieneker was arrested after a police chase – Facebook
He already has a lengthy criminal record, including arrests for assault, family violence, drunk driving and criminal mischief, Fox News reported.
The shooting unfolded at around 2.15pm local time, when Mr Nieneker allegedly entered the shop car park and opened fire with a handgun at random, killing Hector Martinez Machuca, Adam Chow and his granddaughter.
He first approached Machuca, a Target employee, shooting him as he collected carts outside the store, according to Austin Police Sgt Nathan Sexton.
Police outside the Target store, where the shooting unfolded – Austin American-Statesman
Mr Nieneker is then alleged to have approached a family getting into a Toyota, where police said he gunned down Mr Chow and his granddaughter, before assaulting the man’s wife and stealing their car.
Mr Machuca later died in hospital, while Mr Chow and his granddaughter both died at the scene. His wife suffered minor injuries as a result of her assault.
As Mr Nieneker made his hour-long getaway, Sgt Sexton said he was responsible for causing at least one crash, attempting to steal a truck, assaulting another woman who he threw from a vehicle during a car-jacking, and attempting to break into a taxi.
The stolen Toyota 4-Runner crashed into a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV – Austin American-Statesman
Mr Nieneker was eventually tasered by police around 20 miles from the scene and taken into custody, while the murder weapon was recovered from the Chow family’s Toyota 4-Runner, police said.
In addition to murder charges, Mr Nieneker is expected to face charges related to assault, vehicle theft and property damage.
Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said: “This is a very sad day for Austin. It’s a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families.”
