TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — The suspect in a deadly shooting at a fast-food restaurant in Idaho died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police reports released on Sunday. Authorities credited an off-duty officer and a civilian with firing shots that diverted the gunman during the tragic incident that occurred on Saturday at an In-N-Out location in Twin Falls, a city with a population of around 56,000 residents.
Investigators confirmed that the shooter, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, acted alone during the attack. Police Chief Matthew Hicks provided a detailed account during a press conference, stating that four individuals lost their lives, including the shooter, and seven others sustained injuries. As of Sunday, two of the injured victims had been treated and released from a local hospital, while three remained in stable condition and two others were in critical condition.
Chief Hicks praised the actions of both the off-duty state trooper and the armed citizen, emphasizing that their quick response helped to divert Williams from the restaurant and potentially saved lives. He expressed gratitude for their bravery and urged the public to provide any information that could assist in uncovering the suspect's motives.
In a heartfelt statement, Lynsi Snyder, the owner of In-N-Out, mourned the loss of one of the restaurant employees who was among the victims. She expressed profound sorrow, 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 announced that the company would be grieving alongside the families affected by this tragic event.
The FBI has urged the public to submit any images or videos related to the shooting, as investigators continue to piece together the events that unfolded. The In-N-Out restaurant had opened a mere week prior to the incident, on July 24, marking the company's expansion into Idaho.
The identities of the victims, including the restaurant employee who was killed, have not yet been disclosed as authorities are still attempting to notify relatives. Twin Falls spokesperson Josh Palmer confirmed that police found the body of the suspected gunman near the restaurant following the confrontation.
Witness accounts reveal the chaotic nature of the scene during the shooting. Lane Koehn, 34, described witnessing a person with an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru, while a man with a pistol returned fire. Koehn also recounted seeing an employee trying to assist a fellow worker who had been shot, stating, “She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it.”
Another witness, Haley Dodaro, noted the sudden panic that erupted as people began to flee from the restaurant. Initially assuming there was a fire, Dodaro and her mother soon learned from traffic directors that there was an active shooter, prompting widespread terror among the bystanders.
Nayeli Rodriguez, who was inside the restaurant with her daughters when the shooting began, recounted how an employee instructed patrons to get down. Rodriguez and her family were among the last to exit the premises, and she described a harrowing experience of running to safety with the help of strangers who offered them a ride. She remarked, “We were trying to get as far as we could and some angels let us in their car.”
The horrific events of that Saturday afternoon sent shockwaves through the Twin Falls community, prompting calls for support and healing in the aftermath of the tragic shooting.
