Idaho In-N-Out Shooting: Authorities Seek Motive as Community Grieves
Authorities in Twin Falls, Idaho, are still searching for a motive three days after a gunman opened fire at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant, killing three people and wounding seven others before taking his own life. The attack on Saturday afternoon at the fast-food restaurant in a busy shopping plaza left the southern Idaho community of roughly 56,000 residents in shock, according to AP News.
The gunman, identified by police as 24-year-old Chad Williams, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing the total death toll to four. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks confirmed that Williams acted alone and that his family is cooperating fully with the investigation. An initial search of court records in Idaho and Arizona, where Williams previously lived, did not show any criminal cases matching his name and birth date.
A Chaotic Scene and Heroic Response
The violence erupted around 2:29 p.m. at the In-N-Out, which had opened just one week earlier on July 24 as part of the California chain’s expansion into Idaho. Hundreds of people were in the area when gunfire broke out, and witnesses described a scene of chaos and terror.
“People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary,” Twin Falls resident Haley Dodaro, who was in the drive-thru line, told AP News.
The attack was halted in part by an off-duty Idaho State Police trooper and a civilian, Jordan Salinas, 35, of Kimberly, who returned fire on Williams, driving him away from the restaurant and preventing further casualties. Police Chief Hicks praised their actions at a press conference.
“We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” Hicks said. “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.”
Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson echoed that sentiment, calling the responders “true heroes in our community” who “diverted the shooter and without a doubt saved many lives.”
Austin “A.J.” Scott James, a former law enforcement officer who worked for Twin Falls police and the Idaho State Police, was critically wounded when he moved toward the gunman to protect others. His father, Marcus Scott James, said his son chose not to draw his weapon to avoid being mistaken for the shooter.
The Victims
Among those killed was Ashley Garibay, a 23-year-old In-N-Out employee from Stockton, California, who was working at the new Twin Falls location to train new employees. In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder released an emotional statement about Garibay, who dreamed of one day managing an In-N-Out store.
“She was taking care of our most important asset — our Customers, and her life was taken by a disgusting human who doesn’t value the lives of others or his own,” Snyder said, as reported by CBS News.
Christopher Claunch, 59, known to those close to him as “Toph,” was also among those killed. Claunch had completed a rehab program for alcohol abuse at Renaissance Ranch Recovery Center in Rupert, Idaho, and was hired there, dedicating his life to helping others get sober. His friend Garren Taylor remembered him as someone who “helped hundreds of people.”
“He was just a gift to anyone he came in contact with. It wasn’t about the paycheck, his attitude was: ‘I get to help someone today,’” Taylor said, according to NBC News.
A third victim had not yet been publicly identified as of Tuesday. Among the wounded, taxi driver Terry Dudley was shot while charging a Tesla in the parking lot and was flown to a hospital in Boise with serious injuries. Two of the wounded were treated and released, three were listed as stable, and two remained in critical condition.
The Shooter’s Background
Williams attended the College of Southern Idaho from August 2022 through December 2023 but did not graduate, according to the school’s president, L. Dean Fisher. He served in the student senate but was unanimously impeached in February 2023 for procedural reasons related to inactivity in student government, KIVI-TV reported.
Elijah Moseley, who lived across the hall from Williams in a CSI dorm and served as senate pro-tempore at the time of the impeachment, described him as “an introvert” and “a pretty chill guy.”
“I was never scared or weirded out by him,” Moseley said. “I’m shocked by this and sick to my stomach about this.”
Investigation and Community Response
The FBI is assisting with the investigation and has established an online tip line. A Family Assistance Center opened Tuesday at Sawtooth Elementary School for victims and their families, offering mental-health support, spiritual care and other victim-assistance services, KMVT reported.
The city of Twin Falls lowered flags in remembrance of the victims, and a vigil was planned for Tuesday evening at Twin Falls City Park. Police Chief Hicks acknowledged the community’s pain while cautioning that some details cannot yet be released.
“We understand there are many questions, and we will try to answer as many of those in time as we can,” Hicks said. “However, because some details cannot be released at this stage, doing so would compromise our investigation.”
As investigators continue to piece together what led Williams to carry out the attack, the community has been left to mourn the lives lost and grapple with the senseless violence that struck an ordinary Saturday afternoon at a burger joint. The shooting has drawn national attention not only for its tragedy but also for the armed bystander response that likely prevented an even greater loss of life.
The Guardian noted that the quick actions of the off-duty officer and armed citizen helped prevent even more bloodshed, a dynamic that will likely feature prominently in the ongoing investigation and national conversations about mass shootings and civilian response.
For now, the focus remains on the victims, their families, and a community searching for answers.