A Midlothian man has been charged with aggravated assault following a shooting incident that left an 11-year-old girl injured. The girl is currently recovering after being shot in the leg during a domestic dispute at a residence on Sunday evening. The suspect, identified as 37-year-old Mark Robert Nienhuis, is in serious condition after reportedly stabbing himself.
The incident unfolded in a Midlothian neighborhood, prompting police to respond to multiple 911 calls about gunfire around 7:13 p.m. Officers arrived at the scene on Brook Meadow Drive, where they learned that Nienhuis had engaged in an argument with family members before retrieving a handgun from his truck and firing several shots. One of the bullets struck his 11-year-old sister, injuring her.
After leaving the scene, Nienhuis returned moments later and was confronted by one of his sons, who was armed with a rifle. The two exchanged gunfire, though fortunately, no injuries were reported in this second incident. However, nearby homes and vehicles sustained damage from the gunfire.
When police arrived at approximately 7:17 p.m., they found Nienhuis armed with a knife. Officers ordered him to drop the weapon, but he resisted and instead inflicted a stab wound to his neck. He was subsequently taken into custody, and the knife was secured by the authorities.
Emergency personnel attended to those involved in the incident and transported the injured girl to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. She was treated for her gunshot wound and was released the following day. Meanwhile, Nienhuis remains hospitalized, under police supervision, in serious condition.
Nienhuis faces multiple charges, including one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony, as well as eight counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which are classified as second-degree felonies. As for the second shooter, no charges have been filed, as their actions appear to have been in self-defense. The investigation is ongoing.
