Twin Falls In-N-Out Shooting Leaves Three Dead and Seven Injured

Mass Shooting Leaves Three Dead at Twin Falls In-N-Out Burger

Law enforcement officials stated that the suspect’s body was found in an area near the restaurant, with Jerome Police Department Chief Duane Rubink indicating to CNN that the suspect appeared to have died of a self-inflicted wound, according to Nine.com.au. Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer noted that responders found the suspected gunman’s body nearby, though officials initially worked to determine if the suspect was included in the overall fatality count.

Among those killed was an employee of the restaurant, according to a statement released on social media by In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder. 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 wrote in a statement reported by AP News, adding that the company would be mourning and praying with the affected families. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the worker who was killed.

Chaos Erupts as Hundreds Crowd Nearby Plaza

The shooting unfolded around 2 p.m. on Saturday, a time when hundreds of people were gathered in the area around the busy shopping plaza. Witnesses described immediate panic as shots rang out inside and outside the restaurant.

Haley Dodaro, 43, and her mother were waiting in the drive-thru line when they observed people running across the road and restaurant workers fleeing the building. Initially mistaking the commotion for a fire, Dodaro realized the true danger when a traffic director wearing a reflective vest warned them of an active shooter. People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary, Dodaro recounted in a text message.

Nayeli Rodriguez, 40, of Burley, was inside the restaurant with her daughters waiting for food when gunfire began in the kitchen. An employee quickly alerted customers and told everyone to get down. Rodriguez credited an older man with attempting to protect her and her daughters as they fled the building. After escaping outside, Rodriguez stated that they found shelter in a stranger’s vehicle, leaving her own car behind in the parking lot.

Twin Falls In-N-Out Shooting Leaves Multiple Dead in Idaho

Witnesses and Bystanders Describe Armed Encounter

Lane Koehn, 34, told reporters he was stopped at a traffic light near the In-N-Out when he observed a person emerging from the drive-thru carrying an AR-style rifle. Footage and witness accounts indicated that an armed citizen confronted the gunman with a handgun, exchanging gunfire outside the restaurant. Koehn suggested that the actions of the good Samaritan may have distracted the shooter and allowed diners and staff additional time to escape.

During the chaotic scene, Koehn observed a female employee in an In-N-Out uniform who had sustained a chest wound being dragged across the parking lot by another uniform-clad worker. Koehn and the armed citizen stayed with the wounded worker until paramedics arrived to render aid.

Video captured by a driver from across the street showed a suspect dressed in black approaching a white car, opening the driver-side door, and accessing the vehicle’s trunk before the driver fled the area out of fear that the gunman was retrieving additional weapons. Jaylyn Sanchez, another witness, described a terrifying encounter while escaping, stating that she ran head-on into the shooter, who pointed a weapon directly at her before she ducked behind a white car for cover.

Victims Transported and Investigation Underway

Multiple wounded individuals were transported to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center following the rampage. Hospital spokesperson Taylor Marschner confirmed in a statement that the facility was working closely with law enforcement and emergency responders. Officials have not yet released the names, ages, or specific details of those injured, noting that some victims remain in critical condition and family notifications were still underway.

The restaurant where the tragedy occurred had opened approximately one week earlier on July 24, marking part of the California-based burger chain’s expansion into Idaho. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks noted during a news conference that authorities believed the threat to the community was over, describing the incident as a very chaotic scene. Investigators are actively interviewing witnesses to establish a motive, and the FBI has encouraged the public to submit any images or videos related to the Saturday afternoon shooting.