Idaho Burger Restaurant Shooting Motive Remains Unknown as Armed Bystander Credited with Stopping Attack

Detectives in Twin Falls, Idaho, continue searching for the motive behind a mass shooting Saturday afternoon at an In-N-Out Burger that left three people dead and seven others wounded. The 24-year-old gunman, identified as Chad Williams, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near the restaurant after an armed citizen and an off-duty state trooper exchanged fire with him, law enforcement officials said.

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Sunday that investigators are confident Williams acted alone in the attack, though they have not yet established why he opened fire or fully traced his movements before the incident. Hicks praised the interventions of both the unnamed off-duty officer and the civilian, saying their actions “helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties.”

The armed bystander, identified by the Idaho Statesman as Jordan Salinas, 35, of Kimberly, said he took up firearms training after a 2021 shooting and was carrying a FN Five-seveN semi-automatic pistol with a suppressor when the attack began. Salinas, a healthcare worker and full-time caregiver for his wheelchair-bound brother, described calmly “observing,” “orienting,” and “deciding” to act when he recognized the threat.

Salinas told the newspaper the gunman’s demeanor shifted once bullets began flying in both directions. “He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways,” Salinas said, adding that his girlfriend was among those caught in Williams’ gunfire. He said he felt “no fear” and continued firing until police arrived and took control of the scene.

Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson said the two responders were “true heroes in our community” who “diverted the shooter and without a doubt saved many lives.” Officials stated both individuals fired at Williams during what authorities described as a chaotic, fast-moving assault that forced restaurant customers and employees to flee.

In-N-Out Burger owner Lynsi Snyder confirmed in a statement that one of the three people killed was an employee of the restaurant. The company said the victim was assisting customers at the time she was shot. Snyder did not release specific identities, saying the company was working with police to notify families of the deceased.

Among the seven injured, two remained in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon, three were listed in stable condition, and two had already been treated and released from the hospital. The shooting occurred Saturday afternoon at the newly opened restaurant in a busy commercial area with hundreds of shoppers, diners and workers present.

Witness Lane Koehn, 34, told the Associated Press he was stopped at a nearby traffic light when he saw a man carrying an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru. Koehn said he later observed an In-N-Out employee dragging a wounded coworker across the parking lot; the injured worker had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.

Resident Haley Dodaro said she and her mother were in the drive-thru line when employees began running from the restaurant. After a traffic director warned them of an active shooter, they watched people flee across the street. “People were running out crying and screaming,” Dodaro said. “It was very scary.”

A local taxi driver, Terry Dudley, was shot twice in the back while charging his Tesla near the restaurant. North Star Taxi confirmed Dudley survived the attack but faces an extended recovery. Another witness, Nayeli Rodriguez, who was inside the restaurant with her daughters, said an employee instructed customers to take cover after gunfire erupted near the kitchen.

Salinas posted a Facebook message late Sunday urging public attention remain focused on “victims, their families, and everyone affected.” He said he would provide a fuller account of the incident in the coming days but asked for continued prayers and support for those impacted by the tragedy.

The FBI has requested photographs and video footage from the public related to the attack. Twin Falls police are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has relevant information to contact investigators as the probe into Williams’ motive continues.