Tragic Shooting at Idaho In-N-Out Burger

Three individuals lost their lives and seven others sustained injuries, with some in critical condition, in a shooting that took place at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in southern Idaho on Saturday afternoon. The Twin Falls city spokesman confirmed the incident.

Details of the Incident

Police discovered the suspected gunman’s body near the restaurant, according to Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer. It remains unclear if the suspect is among the fatalities. Officials are in the process of notifying the victims’ families, so they have not yet released any names, ages, or details about those harmed, Palmer added. Some of the injured are in critical condition.

Investigation Efforts

Law enforcement is working to ascertain the shooter’s identity and motive, as noted by Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks during a press briefing on Saturday. Hicks stated, “We believe the threat to the community is over.” He described the scene as chaotic. Investigators are conducting interviews with witnesses to piece together the incident.

Eyewitness Accounts

The busy shopping plaza witnessed the shooting around 2 p.m. Lane Koehn, a nearby driver, reported seeing a person with an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru, followed by someone with a pistol firing at the shooter. Koehn saw an In-N-Out employee dragging a wounded colleague with a chest gunshot wound across the parking lot. Koehn and others remained until paramedics arrived.

Video captured by a driver across the street showed the shooter, wearing black, approaching a white car with a long rifle, opening the trunk, and possibly retrieving more weapons. The eyewitness left quickly, fearing further danger.

Community Impact

Haley Dodaro, a Twin Falls resident, visited the In-N-Out for lunch and witnessed people fleeing the restaurant. Initially assuming a fire had occurred, she was informed by someone directing traffic that there was a shooter, sparking fear in many, including Dodaro and her mother.

Nayeli Rodriguez, of Burley, was inside with her daughters when the shooting started. Directed to safety by an employee, she found refuge in a stranger’s car, leaving her own vehicle behind.

Recent Opening

The Twin Falls In-N-Out, which opened on July 24, is part of the chain’s recent expansion into Idaho. Following the incident, multiple individuals were transported to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center. The hospital spokesperson, Taylor Marschner, confirmed their coordination with law enforcement and emergency responders to handle the situation.

Twin Falls is a city with about 56,000 residents, situated approximately 130 miles southeast of Boise and 75 miles north of the Nevada border.