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Police are still working to determine why a 24-year-old gunman opened fire at a crowded In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, killing three people and wounding seven others before taking his own life after taking fire from a bystander and an off-duty Idaho state trooper.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Sunday that investigators were confident Chad Williams acted alone in Saturday’s attack, but detectives had not yet established a motive or fully traced his movements before the shooting.
“We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” Hicks said of an armed citizen and officer who returned fire. “We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen, and their heroic action to stop this incident.”
Police have not publicly identified the trooper or the bystander, but the Idaho Statesman detailed the heroics of Jordan Salinas, 35, of Kimberly, Idaho, strapped by the shoulder with a FN Five-seveN semi-automatic pistol fitted with a suppressor.
OFF-DUTY TROOPER AND ARMED CITIZEN HAILED AS HEROES AFTER RETURNING FIRE ON IN-N-OUT GUNMAN
Salinas, a reported “healthcare worker, the full-time caregiver of his wheelchair-bound brother,” told the paper he took up gun training after a 2021 shooting – never even aiming a gun at an animal – saying he was able to “observe,” “orient” and “decide” that “OK, this is the guy,” he said before being resolute to “act.”
The gunman, he said, was shocked by the armed response.
“He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways,” Salinas, whose girlfriend at the restaurant was stuck in Williams fire, told the Statesman, adding he felt “no fear.”
“There’s a task that needs to be done, and we’re the ones who need to do it,” he added, only standing down when he say police take over the scene, thinking “OK, my part is done.”
The shooter was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near the restaurant, according to police.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE KILLED IN SHOOTING AT IDAHO IN-N-OUT RESTAURANT, SUSPECT DEAD
“These people are true heroes in our community,” Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson said. “They diverted the shooter and without a doubt saved many lives.”
Hicks said Williams’ family was cooperating with authorities. Detectives were examining his activities before the shooting and trying to determine whether any victims had been deliberately targeted.
Authorities said seven people were injured. Two remained in critical condition Sunday, three were listed as stable and two had been treated and released from a hospital.
Officials said both fired at Williams during what authorities described as a chaotic and fast-moving attack, diverting his attention from the restaurant as customers and employees fled.
IN-N-OUT PRESIDENT SAYS ‘HEART IS BROKEN’ AFTER EMPLOYEE, CUSTOMERS KILLED IN IDAHO SHOOTING
Witness Lane Koehn, 34, said he was stopped at a traffic light near the restaurant when he saw a man carrying an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru. Another man armed with a handgun then began firing at the shooter, Koehn told The Associated Press.
Koehn said he later saw an In-N-Out employee drag a wounded co-worker across the parking lot. The injured worker had been shot in the chest, he said.
“She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it,” Koehn said.
One of the three people killed was an In-N-Out employee, company owner Lynsi Snyder confirmed in a statement. Officials had not released the victims’ identities as they worked to notify relatives.
“My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed,” Snyder said. “We lost one of our beautiful associates tonight.”
“In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season.”
Snyder said the employee had been caring for customers when she was killed. The company was working with police and offering support to victims, employees and their families.
The shooting erupted Saturday afternoon at the recently opened restaurant in a busy commercial area where hundreds of shoppers, diners and employees were believed to have been present.
Twin Falls resident Haley Dodaro said she and her mother were waiting in the drive-thru when they saw workers running from the restaurant and people fleeing across the road.
“At first,” Dodaro said, she thought there might have been a fire. A person directing traffic then warned them that there was an active shooter.
“People were running out crying and screaming,” she said. “It was very scary.”
Nayeli Rodriguez, who was inside the restaurant with her daughters, said an employee told customers to get down after gunfire was heard near the kitchen. An older man tried to shield Rodriguez and her children before they escaped.
“We were trying to get as far as we could, and some angels let us in their car,” Rodriguez said.
A local taxi company said one of its drivers, Terry Dudley, was shot twice in the back while charging his Tesla near the restaurant. North Star Taxi said Dudley survived but faced “a very long road ahead.”
Salinas posted a humble Facebook message urging focus on “victims, their families, and everyone affected.”
“The last 24 hours have been overwhelming,” the message posted late Sunday night read. “I want to sincerely thank my family, friends, and everyone who has reached out with messages, prayers, and support. I haven’t been able to respond to everyone yet, but please know I’ve seen your messages, and they mean more to me than I can put into words.
“In the coming days, I’ll share a more complete account of what happened, to the best of my recollection, when I’m able.
“For now, my heart remains with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by yesterday’s tragedy. Thank you for continuing to keep them in your thoughts and prayers, and thank you all for the incredible support you’ve shown me and my family.”
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The FBI asked members of the public to submit photographs and video recorded during the attack. Twin Falls police also urged anyone who witnessed the shooting or had relevant information to contact investigators.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
