UPDATE: Twin Falls police have identified the shooter as 24-year-old Chad Williams and officially confirmed that an armed citizen and an off-duty state trooper returned fire, helping drive Williams away from the restaurant and prevent further casualties. Williams died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Read the full follow-up from The Dallas Express.
A pistol-armed bystander fired at a rifle-wielding gunman during a deadly attack at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, an eyewitness told the Associated Press.
Three people died and at least two others suffered injuries, city spokesman Josh Palmer said. The gunman was among the dead, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said.
Officers responded to the area of the Blue Lakes Boulevard restaurant at approximately 2:29 p.m. Saturday following a report of an active shooter, the Twin Falls Police Department said. Emergency crews transported multiple people to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center.
“The suspect in this incident is deceased, and there is no ongoing threat to the public at this time,” the department said in the August 1 release.
Armed bystander returns fire
Lane Koehn, 34, said he was stopped at a traffic light near the restaurant when he saw a person carrying what he described as an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru. Another man armed with a pistol began firing at the rifleman, Koehn told the Associated Press.
Separate video posted by Nick Sortor appears to show a man standing near a vehicle and aiming a handgun during the attack. Sortor said the man exited his vehicle and returned fire, but police have not confirmed that he forced the gunman to retreat or stopped the attack.
🚨 WOW! An absolute PATRIOT put his LIFE on the line and engaged the shooter at a Twin Falls, ID drive-thru
THIS is America 🇺🇸
This man exited his car and returned fire to force an active shooter to retreat, undoubtably saving COUNTLESS lives
A TRUE HERO pic.twitter.com/F1v4vrK1Um
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 2, 2026
Another video posted by Libs of TikTok appears to show the rifle-wielding gunman moving through the parking lot. Twin Falls police had not identified the armed bystander or said whether he wounded the gunman as of early Sunday.
HOLY CRAP
3 dead 2 injured in shooting at In-N-out Burger in Idaho
Shooter is dead pic.twitter.com/1kcMy6QNpw
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 2, 2026
Koehn said he later saw an In-N-Out employee drag a wounded female co-worker across the parking lot. Koehn, the employee and the armed man remained with her until paramedics arrived.
“She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it,” Koehn said.
Employee among the dead
In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder confirmed that one of the company’s employees died in the attack. Chief Operating Officer Denny Warnick said the company was cooperating with investigators.
“We are heartbroken. Our prayers go out to our Customers, our Associates, and all of their families,” Warnick said in a statement.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said officers were working to identify the gunman and determine a motive. The FBI offered assistance to local law enforcement. Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R-Idaho) asked residents to pray for the Twin Falls community and first responders.
