3 Dead, 7 Hurt in Twin Falls In-N-Out Shooting as Suspect Dies
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Three people were killed and seven others were injured when a gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Three people were killed and seven others were injured when a gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls on Saturday afternoon, police said. The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooting turned a routine weekend lunch rush into panic inside the recently opened restaurant and in the parking lot outside. Some customers fled to restrooms, workers ran for the front door, and people waiting in drive-thru lanes or charging electric cars scrambled for cover.
Police say suspect acted alone
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said investigators believe Williams acted alone. The shooting began around 2:30 p.m. Saturday, after police received multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire at about 2:29 p.m., Hicks said at a Sunday news conference.
“We are that confident Mr. Williams acted alone,” Hicks said.
Police have not released the names of the people killed because family notifications were still underway. Hicks said the motive remains under investigation. The gunman’s family is cooperating with investigators, and Hicks said their hearts are broken too.
Off-duty trooper and armed citizen fired back
Hicks said an off-duty Idaho state trooper and an armed civilian fired back at the gunman and helped drive him away from the scene. “We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” he said.
That detail matters. The quick response appears to have stopped the attack from becoming even deadlier, but it also underlines how fast public spaces can turn dangerous in the United States, where shootings in everyday places have become grimly familiar.
By Sunday afternoon, five of the seven wounded were still hospitalized, including two in critical condition, according to police. Two others had been treated and released, while three were listed in stable condition.
In-N-Out says worker was among the dead
In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder said one of the people killed was an employee. In a statement posted Sunday on social media, she mourned the loss of “one of our beautiful Associates” and said the company would stand with the families.
“In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season,” Snyder said.
The restaurant, known nationally for its burgers and milkshakes, had only recently opened in Twin Falls. On Saturday, it looked like any other location in the chain before the sound of gunfire shattered the scene. By nightfall, it had become another entry in America’s long record of mass shootings, with one fatal number still hanging over the investigation: three dead, seven injured.
