Deadly In-N-Out Idaho Shooting Motive Still Unknown, Cops Say

A quiet Idaho community was shaken Saturday after a gunman attacked a crowded In-N-Out Burger, killing three people and injuring seven others before armed intervention helped bring the violence to an end.

Authorities are still investigating why 24-year-old Chad Williams opened fire at the Twin Falls restaurant. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Sunday that investigators believe Williams acted alone, although they have not established a motive or completely reconstructed his actions before the shooting.

What authorities have made clear is that an armed citizen and an off-duty Idaho state trooper responded during the attack, forcing the gunman’s attention away from restaurant patrons and giving customers and employees an opportunity to escape.

“We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” Hicks said.

“We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen, and their heroic action to stop this incident,” he added.

Officials have not formally released the identities of either individual. However, the Idaho Statesman identified the armed citizen as Jordan Salinas, 35, of Kimberly.

The newspaper described Salinas as a “healthcare worker, the full-time caregiver of his wheelchair-bound brother,” who began firearms training following a 2021 shooting. Before confronting Williams, Salinas said he was able to “observe,” “orient” and “decide” that “OK, this is the guy,” before resolving to “act.”

According to Salinas, the attacker appeared startled when someone returned fire.

“He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways,” Salinas said. His girlfriend was reportedly inside the restaurant and unable to escape because of the gunfire.

Salinas said he felt “no fear” while responding to the threat.

“There’s a task that needs to be done, and we’re the ones who need to do it,” he said, explaining that he stopped once law enforcement officers arrived and assumed control of the scene.

“OK, my part is done,” he recalled thinking when police reached the restaurant.

Williams died following the attack, police said.

Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson credited the two armed responders with preventing an already horrific incident from becoming even deadlier.

“These people are true heroes in our community,” Johnson said. “They diverted the shooter and without a doubt saved many lives.”

Williams’ family is cooperating with authorities as detectives examine his activities before the attack. Investigators are also working to determine whether he deliberately selected any of the victims.

Seven people were wounded. As of Sunday, two remained in critical condition, three were stable, and two had received treatment and been released.

Officials said both the off-duty trooper and Salinas fired during the rapidly unfolding confrontation. Their response reportedly drew Williams’ attention away from the restaurant while terrified patrons and workers moved toward safety.

Witness Lane Koehn, 34, told the Associated Press that he was waiting at a nearby traffic light when he saw a man carrying an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru area. He then witnessed another individual respond with a handgun.

Koehn also reported seeing an In-N-Out employee pull an injured colleague across the parking lot to safety.

In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder subsequently confirmed that one of the three people killed was a restaurant employee.

The tragedy has left Twin Falls grieving, but it has also highlighted the courage of ordinary citizens and law enforcement officers willing to confront immediate danger. Authorities believe that decisive armed resistance prevented the attacker from claiming even more innocent lives.