Idaho In-N-Out Shooter Identified as Chad Williams as Police Credit Trooper and Armed Citizen With Preventing Further Casualties 

Twin Falls police have identified 24-year-old Chad Williams as the gunman in the deadly attack at an In-N-Out Burger in southern Idaho, as investigators piece together how the violence unfolded and why it occurred. 

Three victims were killed, and seven others were injured in the shooting Saturday, police said. Williams was also found dead near the restaurant from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Investigators believe Williams acted alone. Police have not announced a motive or disclosed any known connection between him and the people who were shot. 

The updated account also confirmed that an off-duty Idaho State Police trooper and an armed citizen returned fire during the attack. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said their intervention helped force Williams away from the restaurant and prevented further casualties. 

Police Piece Together the Attack 

The Twin Falls City Communications Center began receiving emergency calls about gunfire at approximately 2:29 p.m. Saturday. The shooting occurred at the In-N-Out Burger on Blue Lakes Boulevard, inside a busy commercial district frequented by residents and travelers. Hicks said a dispatcher could hear screaming and gunshots in the background during at least one of the calls. 

Officers from Twin Falls police and other law enforcement agencies responded as emergency crews began assisting the wounded. Williams left the immediate restaurant area and was later found dead nearby, according to police. Investigators subsequently identified him, determined that his gunshot wound was self-inflicted, and said the available evidence indicated he was the only attacker. 

Trooper and Armed Citizen Confront the Gunman 

According to the Associated Press, an off-duty Idaho State Police trooper and an armed citizen returned fire during the attack. Police have not publicly identified either person and have not said that their shots struck the gunman. Their actions, however, became a critical part of the official timeline released after investigators reviewed the early evidence. 

“We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” Hicks said. The chief commended both individuals for intervening during the attack. Williams’ subsequent death was attributed to a self-inflicted wound, while police continued examining his movements before and after the exchange of gunfire. 

In-N-Out Mourns Employee and Customers 

In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder confirmed that an employee was among the three victims killed. The associate had been working at the restaurant when the shooting occurred. Snyder said the company was grieving alongside the families whose lives were changed by the attack. 

“In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season,” Snyder said. Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick said the company was “heartbroken” and was working with Twin Falls police to assist the investigation. In-N-Out has not publicly identified the employee. 

The loss carries a particularly personal weight for the restaurant’s workforce. Employees who had only recently begun serving customers at the new location are now mourning a colleague while dealing with the aftermath of an attack at their workplace. 

A New Restaurant Becomes a Crime Scene 

The Twin Falls restaurant opened on July 24 as part of In-N-Out’s expansion into Idaho. Its arrival drew considerable interest in the city, with customers visiting the location during its first days of operation. The shooting occurred barely a week after the restaurant began serving the community. 

For Twin Falls, the setting intensified the human impact of the attack. Employees had reported for an ordinary weekend shift, while customers arrived for meals at one of the city’s newest businesses. Within minutes, the restaurant and surrounding parking area had become an emergency scene filled with law enforcement officers, paramedics and people attempting to reach safety. 

Investigators Search for a Motive 

Williams’ family is cooperating with detectives, Hicks said. Investigators are reviewing physical evidence and conducting interviews to establish what led to the shooting. Police have not reported finding another suspect or announced evidence that Williams received assistance from anyone else. 

Police said the investigation remains active and additional information will be released after it has been verified. For now, the identification of Williams and confirmation that he acted alone have clarified the immediate police account, while the motive behind the attack remains unresolved. 

For Twin Falls, the police briefing has answered who carried out the attack and how the gunman died, but it has not explained why three lives were taken at a restaurant that had opened only days earlier. The intervention of an off-duty trooper and an armed citizen may have prevented an even greater loss of life, according to police. As the community mourns and the injured begin recovering, investigators are continuing their work to determine what led Williams to open fire. Police said further information will be released when it has been verified.