Three Dead, Seven Wounded in Idaho In-N-Out Shooting

Twin Falls, Idaho, a city of roughly 56,000, confronted sudden loss on a summer Saturday when gunfire erupted inside a newly opened In-N-Out Burger. Three people died and seven others suffered injuries, some critical, according to city spokesman Josh Palmer. The suspected shooter, an unidentified man, was later found dead near the restaurant.

Police received the first report of an active shooter inside the dining area around 2:30 p.m. on August 1. The restaurant, which opened July 24 as the chain’s fourth location in the state, sits in a busy shopping plaza on Blue Lakes Boulevard North. Chief Matthew Hicks described the response as chaotic while confirming that the immediate threat had ended. The FBI joined the investigation.

Palmer said the victim count could rise and that names would remain withheld until families were notified. Hicks told reporters that investigators were interviewing hundreds of witnesses and had not yet established a motive. The shooter’s body was located outside the building; authorities have not confirmed whether the death was self-inflicted.

Witnesses described rapid confusion. Lane Koehn, 34, said he saw a person with an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru and another man return fire with a pistol. Koehn and others helped move an injured employee until paramedics arrived. Nayeli Rodriguez, 40, of Burley, was inside with her daughters when shots sounded from the kitchen; an older man shielded them as they fled. Haley Dodaro, 43, was in the drive-thru line when people began running and screaming.

In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder issued a statement expressing grief for the slain associate and customers. She said the company would support affected families and employees while cooperating with police. Nearby businesses, including a Chick-fil-A and the Magic Valley Mall, closed or locked down temporarily; shelter-in-place orders were later lifted.

St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center received multiple patients and coordinated with responders. The Perrine Bridge and surrounding roads reopened by evening. Officials continue to examine video and statements to determine how the shooting began and whether the gunman targeted anyone specifically.