Armed Citizen Intervenes in Fatal Twin Falls In-N-Out Shooting
Three dead, seven injured in restaurant attack; FBI joins investigation into gunman's actions.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Callum Smith
A shooting at the In-N-Out in Twin Falls, Idaho, left three people dead and seven injured.
The unidentified male died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
An armed citizen intervened, exchanging gunfire with the shooter; authorities believe this action prevented further casualties.
Multiple injured individuals were transported to St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center following the violence.
Two of the injured have since been treated and released; three remain hospitalized in stable condition, and two are in critical condition.
The FBI is assisting the Twin Falls Police Department with the ongoing investigation, asking the public to submit any relevant images and videos.
The violence erupted around 2 p.m. at the newly established fast-food outlet, operational for only a week; witnesses described a chaotic scene.
So that's when we knew there was a shooting. People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary.
Haley Dodaro recounted the terror, stating, "So that's when we knew there was a shooting. People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary."
Video captured a man with a long rifle approaching a car outside the restaurant; unverified social media videos appeared to show the gunman firing in the parking lot as people fled.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks claims the gunman, identified as Williams, acted alone in the massacre.
Authorities are confident Williams acted alone; Chief Hicks stated that the actions of an armed citizen and an off-duty trooper helped drive the suspect away from the scene.
Hall affirmed this, saying, "We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties."
Witnesses, however, claim a second shooter fired at the suspect with a handgun, identifying this individual as a heroic bystander who shot back and helped victims to safety.
Lane Koehn, a witness, stated the bystander identified himself as a retired paramedic, adding, "She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it."
Witnesses also described the gunman as panicking, running, and slinging his rifle around while firing, rather than being calm and collected.
The victims included an In-N-Out employee and customers.
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. She was taking care of our most important asset - our Customers, and her life was taken by a disgusting human who doesn’t value the lives of others or his own.
Lynsi Snyder, an In-N-Out representative, expressed profound grief, stating, "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."
Snyder added, "She was taking care of our most important asset - our Customers, and her life was taken by a disgusting human who doesn’t value the lives of others or his own."
In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season, Snyder confirmed.