Armed Citizen and Off-Duty Officer Return Fire During Idaho In-N-Out Mass Shooting

A mass shooting at an In-N-Out restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho claimed three lives and wounded seven others on Saturday afternoon, but an armed civilian and off-duty officer who returned fire are credited with preventing further casualties. The 24-year-old gunman, identified as Chad Williams, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as law enforcement and armed civilians converged on the scene.

The Attack Unfolds

Emergency dispatchers received multiple calls at 2:29 p.m. local time reporting gunfire near the In-N-Out location on Blue Lakes Boulevard North. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks described the initial moments as chaotic, with dispatchers able to hear screaming over radio communications. Social media videos showed the gunman firing a rifle in the parking lot while patrons and staff fled the area.

Williams opened fire on vehicles near the drive-through window, leaving three people dead and seven wounded. One victim was identified as Ashley Garibay, a 23-year-old employee at the newly opened restaurant outlet. Two of the injured have since been released from the hospital, three remain in stable condition, and two continue to receive critical care.

Civilian Response Limits Damage

Jordan Salinas, a 35-year-old healthcare worker, was at the restaurant with his girlfriend when the shooting began. Upon hearing gunfire, Salinas drew a semi-automatic pistol with a suppressor from his shoulder holster and engaged the shooter. In an interview, Salinas described his response as automatic and mechanical, saying the gunman "did not like it when bullets started firing both ways."

Salinas had undergone firearm training since a 2021 mass shooting at a Boise mall that killed two people and wounded four others. Police Chief Hicks and County Sheriff Jack Johnson both publicly commended Salinas and the off-duty officer present at the scene, stating their return fire diverted the shooter and prevented additional casualties. "We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene," Hicks said at a Sunday news conference.

Investigation Ongoing

Authorities have not yet disclosed Williams' possible motivations, though the FBI has opened a tip portal and investigators continue piecing together details of the attack. Twin Falls, a community of approximately 56,000 residents, has been deeply affected by the incident. The Williams family was notified and is cooperating with law enforcement, with authorities acknowledging the family's grief during this time. Police have also worked to counter misinformation on social media regarding the shooter's identity and circumstances.