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A gunman opened fire inside an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, killing three people and wounding seven before he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks identified the shooter on Sunday as 24-year-old Chad Williams and said investigators believe he acted alone.
An off-duty Idaho State Police trooper and a local resident returned fire as the gunman moved through the area. "We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties," Hicks said. Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson called the two men heroes and said their actions "no doubt saved many lives."
The shooting began inside the restaurant before spilling into the surrounding shopping center, according to Twin Falls city officials. Videos posted to social media showed a man in a black shirt and jeans carrying a large rifle, firing at a parked vehicle and walking through the drive-thru. Roads and the nearby Perrine Bridge were closed during the response, then reopened.
One of those killed was an In-N-Out employee. "We lost one of our beautiful Associates tonight," company president Lynsi Snyder said in a statement. Of the wounded, two were treated and released, three were in stable condition and two remained critical at St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center, which issued a critical alert urging the public to stay away unless facing an emergency.
A motive remains under investigation, and the FBI set up a dedicated tip line for photos and video from the scene. The attack is the latest mass shooting at a public venue in the United States, and one of a handful in recent months in which an armed civilian and an off-duty officer engaged the attacker before responding police reached the scene.
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