Gunfire at Newly Opened Idaho In-N-Out Leaves 3 Dead, Shoppers Fleeing for Safety
A Saturday afternoon at one of Idaho’s newest In-N-Out Burger restaurants became chaotic when a gunman opened fire at the busy Twin Falls location, killing several people and injuring others.
Videos from witnesses showed customers, employees, and drivers trying to get to safety as gunshots were heard throughout the Canyon Park West shopping area on August 1. Some footage seemed to show two armed men, which at first led to concerns about more than one attacker. But witnesses said the second armed person may have been trying to stop the suspected shooter, not joining in the attack.
Authorities were still confirming the number of casualties early Sunday. Local station KTVB said three victims and the suspected shooter had died, with five others injured. The Associated Press, quoting a Twin Falls city spokesperson, reported three deaths and seven injuries, some critical. Police had not yet released the victims’ names or a final count.
A Busy Saturday Afternoon Turns Chaotic
Twin Falls police said they got the first report of an active shooter around 2:29 p.m. near the In-N-Out Burger. Police, firefighters, paramedics, and teams from nearby agencies quickly responded as emergency calls came in from the busy shopping area.
The restaurant had opened just a week earlier, attracting large crowds excited to try the California-based burger chain’s new Twin Falls spot. Reports said hundreds of people were in or near the restaurant and nearby shops when the shooting began.
Witness Lane Koehn said he was waiting at a traffic light on Blue Lakes Boulevard when he saw bullets hit a car nearby. He looked toward the restaurant and saw someone with what looked like a semiautomatic rifle shooting in different directions.
“I couldn’t tell rhyme or reason,” Koehn told KTVB, saying the gunfire seemed random. He said the attacker shot at vehicles and toward the drive-through while scared customers and employees ran across the parking lot.
Koehn then saw another man with a handgun start shooting toward the suspected shooter. This exchange may explain why early videos and social media posts made it seem like two gunmen were attacking the restaurant.
Police had not named the man with the handgun as a second suspect. Koehn thought the man may have distracted the attacker with the rifle long enough for people nearby to get away, but officials had not confirmed his role.
The confusion shows how fast incomplete information can spread during an emergency. Twin Falls police later warned that false details about the shooter and suspect’s identity were circulating online. They asked the public not to share unverified claims while investigators reviewed witness statements, videos, and evidence.
Employees and Bystanders Helped the Wounded
While the gunfire continued, workers and bystanders did not wait for paramedics. Koehn saw an In-N-Out employee trying to pull an injured coworker through the parking lot.
He joined others who tried to keep the injured employee awake and stop the bleeding until emergency crews arrived. The witness said the worker’s injuries were severe, but officials had not shared details about individual patients.
In-N-Out later confirmed that one of its employees had died. Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick said the company was “heartbroken” and was helping the Twin Falls Police Department with the investigation.
The company said it was thinking of customers, employees, and their families. The loss was especially hard because the staff had just celebrated the restaurant’s opening.
Nearby businesses were told to shelter in place while police searched and secured the area. The Magic Valley Mall went into lockdown, and roads around the restaurant and Twin Falls Visitor Center were closed. The Perrine Bridge was also closed for a time before reopening that evening.
St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center took in several patients and asked the public to stay away unless they had an emergency. Visitor access was limited so medical teams could focus on treating the injured.
Police took witnesses away from the scene for interviews. Chief Matthew Hicks said there were “literally hundreds of people” in the area during the shooting, making it a huge task for investigators to figure out exactly what happened.
Suspected Shooter Found Dead, Questions Remain
Police found the suspected shooter dead near the restaurant. The official Twin Falls police alert confirmed the suspect had died and said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
In-N-Out said the attacker had taken his own life. Jerome Police Chief Duane Rubink told CNN the death seemed self-inflicted. Twin Falls police had not yet confirmed the exact cause of death in their first public statements.
Investigators were trying to identify the suspect, trace the weapons, and find out if the victims were targeted. No motive had been shared, and officials warned residents not to speculate about the attacker’s identity or reasons.
Hicks said the scene was extremely difficult, involving the restaurant, parking lots, nearby roads, and businesses. He called it likely “the most chaotic scene” many officers and emergency workers would ever face in their careers.
The FBI, Idaho State Police, Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies were helping with the investigation. Officers asked anyone who saw the shooting, recorded video, or had information to contact Twin Falls dispatch at 208-735-4357.
Idaho Governor Brad Little asked residents to keep the Twin Falls community in their prayers and to follow law enforcement instructions. Other state leaders thanked first responders and offered condolences to the victims and their families. The violence transformed an ordinary Saturday at a newly opened restaurant into a community tragedy. The footage may capture the panic, but it cannot fully show the shock carried by employees who lost a coworker, strangers who tried to stop the bleeding, and families waiting for news from the hospital.
What started as excitement for a new restaurant is now the focus of a major criminal investigation. Until police share the suspect’s identity, a final casualty count, and evidence about the motive, the main questions behind the attack remain unanswered.
