A quiet Saturday afternoon in Twin Falls turned into a nightmare when gunfire erupted outside a newly opened local restaurant. Three people lost their lives and seven others sustained injuries during the attack at the city's In-N-Out Burger location.
Local authorities have since confirmed that the gunman acted alone. The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the rampage.
The Timeline of Chaos
The attack unfolded shortly before 2:30 p.m. on a Saturday in a crowded commercial district. The Twin Falls restaurant had just opened its doors on July 24, drawing heavy crowds as part of the brand's recent expansion into Idaho.
Witnesses described immediate panic as shots echoed across the busy parking lot and drive-thru lanes. Shoppers and diners scrambled for cover. First responders walked into what Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks described as one of the most chaotic situations an officer could ever face.
Amid the terror, intervention came from the ground. An armed civilian, identified in reports as Jordan Salinas, alongside an off-duty law enforcement officer, returned fire at the gunman. Police later credited these armed citizens with driving the suspect away from the main crowd and preventing an even higher death toll.
The Aftermath and Investigation
Police located Williams dead nearby from a self-inflicted wound. Federal investigators, including agents from the FBI, stepped in to help local law enforcement piece together the motive.
Out of the seven people wounded, victims were rushed to St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center. Hospital updates confirmed varying conditions, with several patients stabilized while others remained critical.
In-N-Out corporate leadership expressed profound grief over the tragedy. Lynsi Snyder, the company's president and owner, shared an emotional statement on social media confirming that a female staff member was among those killed while working.
Investigators are continuing to process digital evidence. Law enforcement has publicly asked anyone who captured photo or video footage of the incident to submit files directly to investigators to help clarify the final sequence of events.
