Three killed, seven wounded in shooting at Idaho In-N-Out; off-duty trooper and bystander returned fire
A gunman opened fire at a busy In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday afternoon, killing three people and wounding seven before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An off-duty state trooper and an armed bystander returned fire, likely preventing more casualties.
The attack
Gunfire erupted at the In-N-Out Burger on Blue Lakes Boulevard North in Twin Falls, Idaho, around 2:29 p.m. on Saturday, August 1. 911 dispatchers received multiple calls and could hear screaming in the background. Police Chief Matthew Hicks later described the scene as "one of the most chaotic instances of what law enforcement officers encounter in their career." The restaurant, which had opened just over a week earlier on July 24, sits in a busy commercial district alongside stores like Petco and Best Buy. Hundreds of people were in the area when the shooting began.
Witnesses described panic as customers and employees fled. Lane Koehn, 34, saw a person with an AR-style rifle exit the drive-thru and a man with a handgun fire back at the shooter. He then saw an In-N-Out employee being dragged across the parking lot, bleeding from a chest wound. Haley Dodaro, 43, was in the drive-thru line when she saw workers bolting from the restaurant and people running across the road. Nayeli Rodriguez, 40, was inside waiting for food with her daughters when she heard shots from the kitchen and an employee told everyone to get down.
The response
An off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen returned fire, causing the suspect to move away from the restaurant. Hicks commended their actions, saying they helped prevent further casualties.
We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties.
Police converged on the restaurant and located the suspected gunman's body near the property. On Sunday, Hicks confirmed that the suspect, 24-year-old Chad Williams, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators believe he acted alone, and his family is cooperating with authorities. The FBI has set up a digital tip line and is asking anyone with photos or video to submit material.
- 911 dispatchers receive multiple calls reporting shots fired near the In-N-Out on Blue Lakes Boulevard North.
- Officers arrive at the scene, which Police Chief Matthew Hicks later describes as one of the most chaotic instances of their careers.
- An off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen return fire, driving the suspect away from the restaurant.
- Police locate the suspected gunman's body near the restaurant.
- Police Chief Hicks confirms the suspect, Chad Williams, 24, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and likely acted alone.
The victims
Three people were killed and seven others were injured. Police have not released the names of the victims, and it remains unclear whether the gunman is counted among the three fatalities. In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder confirmed that one of the dead was an employee.
My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I've shed. We lost one of our beautiful Associates tonight.
Of the seven wounded, two were treated and released from St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center by Sunday, three are in stable condition, and two remain in critical condition. A city spokesman had cautioned on Saturday evening that the toll could rise.
The investigation
Detectives are still working to determine a motive. Hicks said the Williams family has been notified and is fully cooperating. He also pushed back on false claims circulating online that incorrectly identified another individual as the gunman, stressing that person had no involvement. The FBI is assisting the case, and Hicks urged anyone with even the smallest detail to come forward.
Twin Falls, a city of about 56,000 residents, is roughly 130 miles southeast of Boise. The shooting has shaken the community, and police say the investigation will continue for some time.
