Loss hits different when it’s random. When it happens on a Monday morning in a place as mundane as a Target parking lot, it feels less like a statistic and more like a tear in the fabric of how things are supposed to work. In August 2025, the city of Austin was forced to grapple with exactly that kind of senselessness.
Adam Chow was 65. He was a grandfather, a husband, and a father. Astrid Fung was just 4 years old. She was his granddaughter. They weren't famous, and they weren't public figures. They were just a family running errands on a typical summer day at the Target on Research Boulevard. Then, everything changed in a matter of seconds.
What Happened to Adam Chow and Astrid Fung?
If you've seen the headlines, you know the basics, but the details are what stay with you. On August 11, 2025, a gunman—later identified by police as 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker—began a violent spree in the parking lot. It started with the shooting of a Target employee, Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca.
Adam was in his Toyota 4Runner with his wife, Doris, and little Astrid. They were caught in the middle of a chaotic carjacking attempt. According to police reports, the suspect approached their vehicle and opened fire. Adam, who was in the driver's seat, was hit first. The gunman then fired into the backseat, striking 4-year-old Astrid.
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It’s hard to even imagine. Doris, Adam’s wife, survived with minor injuries, but she had to witness the unthinkable. She actually carried her granddaughter out of the SUV while the suspect pushed her aside to steal their car. By the time first responders arrived, both Adam and Astrid were gone.
Remembering the Lives Behind the Headlines
People aren't just names in a police report. Adam Chow was described by those who knew him as a man of deep faith. He was a "doting grandfather" who dedicated his life to his family and his community. His daughters, Monica and Sophia, lost a father who was the bedrock of their family.
Then there’s Astrid.
Four years old.
She was a student at the Austin Chinese Church Preschool. Her teachers and classmates remember her as a "bright light." Friends of the family mentioned how she brought "joy and laughter" to everyone. When a child’s life is cut short like that, the "what ifs" are staggering. She was just starting to figure out the world.
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The Community Response in Austin
Austin is a big city, but in moments like this, it feels remarkably small. The community didn't just move on. A GoFundMe was set up almost immediately to help the Chow and Fung families with funeral costs and memorial expenses. It wasn't just about the money, though; it was about the thousands of people who left messages of support.
Target released a statement expressing devastation, and the store remained closed for a period to provide grief counseling for employees. But for the family, the closure of a store or a corporate statement doesn't do much to fill the void.
The legal side of this moved quickly. Nieneker was arrested shortly after the spree and charged with multiple counts of capital murder. As of late 2025 and early 2026, the case has highlighted significant conversations in Texas about mental health, criminal history—since the suspect had a documented past—and the safety of public spaces.
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Why This Story Still Resonates
Honestly, it’s the randomness that haunts people. We all go to Target. We all buckle our kids or grandkids into the backseat. We expect to come home. When Adam Chow and Astrid Fung didn't, it served as a brutal reminder of the fragility of life.
There’s no "silver lining" here. It’s just a tragedy. But in the wake of it, seeing the way the Austin Chinese Church and the local community rallied around Doris and her daughters showed a different side of humanity—one that tries to repair what someone else broke.
Practical Ways to Support and Stay Informed
If you are looking for ways to honor the memory of Adam and Astrid or want to stay updated on the legal proceedings, here are a few steps:
- Check Verified Memorial Funds: While the initial GoFundMe was the primary source of support, local community centers in Austin often coordinate ongoing support for the families of victims of violent crime.
- Advocate for Public Safety: Many local groups in Austin are working on initiatives focused on parking lot safety and mental health intervention to prevent similar "random" acts of violence.
- Support Local Grief Centers: Organizations like The Austin Center for Grief & Loss provide essential services for families dealing with sudden, traumatic loss. Supporting these centers helps ensure that survivors like Doris have the long-term care they need.
- Follow Official Court Records: For those following the criminal case against Ethan Nieneker, the Travis County District Clerk’s office provides public access to court settings and filings.