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Twin Falls In-N-Out Attack
A gunman opened fire outside an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday afternoon, leaving three people killed and seven others injured, according to a Twin Falls city spokesman and police chief Matthew Hicks.
“Three people were killed and another seven were injured when a gunman opened fire outside an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho”
ABC News reported that the suspected shooter, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after being confronted by an armed off-duty Idaho state trooper and a private citizen, and that five of the seven injured victims remained hospitalized on Sunday afternoon.
Hicks said investigators so far believe that Williams acted alone, and ABC News reported that police responded to a call for shots fired at the In-N-Out on Blue Lakes Boulevard in Twin Falls at 2:29 p.m. on Saturday.
The Associated Press reported that police found the body of the suspected gunman in an area near the restaurant, and that Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer said he did not know if the suspect was included in the fatality count.
Chaos, Witnesses, and Motive
At a news conference, Hicks described the scene as "one of the most chaotic instances a law enforcement officer could face in their career," and ABC News said a large police presence from multiple agencies descended on the scene.
ABC News quoted Hicks saying, "We believe these actions drove the suspect from the scene and prevented further casualties," referring to the off-duty trooper and a private citizen who confronted Williams.
The Associated Press reported that Lane Koehn, 34, said he saw a person with an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru and that a man with a pistol started firing at the shooter.
The Associated Press also reported that Koehn said he was told by police to evacuate because the shooting was still active, and that he said the shooter fired at least three or four rounds.
Community Impact and Investigation
In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder said in a statement posted on social media that an employee was among those shot and killed, and ABC News reported she said, "In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season."
“"In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season,"”
ABC News reported that Idaho Gov. Brad Little asked for prayers "as law enforcement and first responders respond to an active shooter situation near In-N-Out," and that the FBI was offering assistance to local law enforcement.
The Associated Press reported that officials were still working on notifying family members of victims and were not yet releasing the names, ages or other details about the people hurt, while Palmer said some injured people were in critical condition.
Hicks told reporters, "We believe the threat to the community is over," and the Associated Press reported that police were still trying to determine the shooter’s identity and motive as investigators interviewed witnesses.
