Armed Bystander Distracts Shooter in Idaho In-N-Out Attack, Police Say
Police say an armed civilian and an off-duty trooper engaged a gunman at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, helping prevent further casualties before the shooter died by suicide.
Twin Falls, Idaho – A gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger on Saturday, killing three people and wounding seven others, before turning the weapon on himself, police said. Witnesses reported that an armed bystander and an off-duty state trooper confronted the shooter, drawing his attention and returning fire, which officials believe limited the number of victims.
"The shooter was solely focused on him, and [it] allowed us to get out," said Lane Koehn, a 34-year-old driver who was stopped at a nearby traffic light when the attack began.
Koehn described the assailant, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, as panicked and moving erratically through the drive-through lane. He said the armed civilian’s gunfire kept the shooter from targeting additional patrons, giving others time to flee.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks briefed reporters, confirming three fatalities and seven injuries, two of which remained in critical condition. He added that the shooter’s family is cooperating with the investigation and expressed sympathy for the victims’ families.
"We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties," Hicks said, referring to the civilian and the off-duty trooper.
The incident lasted approximately 10 to 15 minutes, according to Koehn, who also witnessed an employee being dragged from the restaurant with a chest wound. A retired EMT assisted until an ambulance arrived.
In-N-Out Burger president Lynsi Snyder confirmed that an employee was among those killed, describing the loss as the result of a “disgusting human” who “doesn’t value the lives of others or his own.”
Police continue to investigate the motive and full circumstances of the shooting. The Twin Falls Police Department, assisted by multiple local agencies and the FBI, has opened a digital tip line for the public to submit any relevant media.
The officer who fired during the response is under review, and the department reiterated its commitment to maintaining law-enforcement services for the community.