TWIN FALLS, Idaho, Aug 1 – A deadly shooting at a recently opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho, left 3 people dead and 7 others injured on Saturday afternoon, sending customers, employees and nearby shoppers fleeing in panic as police rushed to secure the scene. Authorities said the investigation remains in its early stages, with detectives continuing to examine evidence, interview witnesses and determine what led to the violence.
The shooting unfolded shortly after 2 p.m. at the popular fast food restaurant, which had opened its doors just over a week earlier as part of the company’s expansion into Idaho. The restaurant is located inside a busy commercial shopping area that was crowded with customers during the weekend rush, making the incident even more chaotic.
Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer told reporters that 3 people lost their lives in the attack, while 7 others suffered injuries of varying severity. Some of the victims remain in critical condition and continue to receive medical treatment. Authorities have not yet released the identities, ages or additional details of those killed or injured, explaining that officials are first working to notify family members before making that information public.
Palmer also confirmed that officers responding to the emergency later discovered the body of the suspected gunman in an area close to the restaurant. However, investigators have not yet clarified whether the suspect is included in the official death toll released by the city. Police continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death as part of the broader investigation.
Speaking during a news briefing earlier Saturday, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said investigators are still trying to establish the shooter’s identity and determine what may have motivated the attack. While many questions remain unanswered, Hicks assured residents that authorities believe there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
“We believe the threat to the community is over,” Hicks said during the briefing, describing the incident as an extremely chaotic and fast-moving situation that required an immediate emergency response.
Investigators spent hours securing the restaurant, surrounding parking areas and nearby businesses while collecting evidence. Palmer said detectives are conducting interviews with numerous witnesses who were either inside the restaurant or in the surrounding shopping plaza when gunfire erupted. Given the large number of people present, officials expect the investigation to take considerable time before a complete timeline can be established.
Among those who witnessed the violence was 34-year-old Lane Koehn, who was stopped at a nearby traffic light when the incident unfolded. Koehn said he saw an individual carrying what appeared to be an AR-style rifle emerge from the restaurant’s drive-thru area. Moments later, another man armed with a handgun began firing toward the suspected shooter.
Koehn recalled seeing an employee wearing an In-N-Out uniform pulling another worker across the parking lot after the woman suffered what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the chest. He said he, the employee and the armed civilian remained with the injured woman until emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene.
According to Koehn, the employee appeared to be in critical condition as they waited for paramedics.
“She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it,” he said while describing the frightening moments that followed the shooting.
Koehn added that police quickly instructed people in the area to evacuate because officers were still treating the incident as an active shooter situation. He estimated hearing at least three or four shots but said it was impossible to determine whether the gunman was targeting specific individuals or firing randomly.
Video recorded by a motorist across the street captured part of the incident before the driver fled the area for safety. The footage reportedly showed a person dressed in black carrying a long rifle while approaching a white vehicle. The individual opened the driver’s side door before moving to the trunk and reaching inside. Fearing the suspect might be retrieving additional weapons, the person recording the video immediately drove away from the area.
Another witness, Twin Falls resident Haley Dodaro, had arrived at the restaurant with her mother for lunch and was waiting in the drive-thru line when the situation rapidly escalated. Initially believing there might have been a fire inside the building after seeing workers running from the restaurant, she soon realized the situation was far more serious.
Dodaro said a man directing traffic while wearing a reflective safety vest informed waiting motorists that there was an active shooter.
“That’s when we knew there was a shooting. People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary,” she said while describing the confusion and fear that spread across the parking lot.
Inside the restaurant, customers scrambled for cover as gunfire echoed through the building. Nayeli Rodriguez, 40, who had traveled from Burley with her daughters, said they were waiting for their food when they suddenly heard gunshots coming from the direction of the kitchen.
Rodriguez said an employee immediately warned everyone inside that there was a shooting and instructed customers to get down for protection. During the terrifying ordeal, she said an older man attempted to shield her and her daughters before they finally escaped from the restaurant.
“We were trying to get as far as we could and some angels let us in their car,” Rodriguez said, adding that she was forced to leave her own vehicle behind in the restaurant parking lot while escaping.
Emergency responders transported multiple victims to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center, where hospital officials activated emergency procedures to receive those injured in the shooting. Hospital spokesperson Taylor Marschner said in a statement that the medical center was coordinating closely with law enforcement officers and emergency responders as they managed the aftermath of the incident and continued caring for patients.
The shooting has shaken Twin Falls, a southern Idaho city with a population of approximately 56,000 residents. Located roughly 130 miles southeast of Boise and about 75 miles north of the Nevada border, the community is generally regarded as a quiet regional center, making Saturday’s violence particularly shocking for local residents.
The tragedy also struck a restaurant that had quickly attracted significant public attention following its opening on July 24. The new In-N-Out location had drawn large crowds during its first week of business as customers visited the company’s newest Idaho restaurant.
As investigators continue processing evidence and reviewing witness accounts, authorities have urged anyone who may have additional information, photographs or video recordings from the scene to contact law enforcement. Officials emphasized that determining the sequence of events and the motive behind the shooting remains a top priority.
Police have not announced when additional information, including the identities of the victims or the suspected gunman, will be released. Authorities indicated that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and more facts are confirmed.