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

Twin Falls police responded to reports of an active shooter at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant on Blue Lakes Boulevard North around 2 p.m. Saturday, where gunfire left three people dead and seven others wounded, some critically. The suspected gunman was later found dead near the scene, though officials have not confirmed if his death resulted from suicide or other means.

City spokesman Josh Palmer said the initial casualty count could rise as investigators continue to interview witnesses and notify families. Police Chief Matthew Hicks described the scene as chaotic and confirmed that the immediate threat to the public had ended. The FBI is assisting local authorities in determining the shooter's identity and motive, with further details expected in coming days.

Witness accounts painted a picture of sudden violence in a busy shopping plaza that includes stores such as Petco and Best Buy. Nayeli Rodriguez, 40, was inside with her daughters when shots rang out from the kitchen area. An employee directed people to get down, and an older man shielded her family as they fled. They eventually received help from strangers who allowed them into a vehicle, leaving her car behind in the lot.

Lane Koehn, 34, was stopped at a nearby traffic light when he saw a person carrying an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru. A man armed with a pistol opened fire on the shooter. Koehn also observed an In-N-Out employee in uniform dragging a wounded colleague across the parking lot. The pair remained with the injured worker until paramedics arrived. Koehn said police later directed him to leave the area while the situation remained active.

In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder issued a statement expressing grief over the loss of one associate and additional customers. She described the gunman as a person who did not value the lives of others or his own, noting that the attack struck both on and off the restaurant property before the shooter ended his life. Snyder said the company would mourn with affected families, support employees and witnesses, and seek comfort through faith rather than anger.

The restaurant had opened just days earlier on July 24, drawing crowds to the area on a summer Saturday afternoon. Officials emphasized that hundreds of people were present when the shooting began, complicating efforts to piece together the sequence of events. No names of victims have been released pending family notifications.

Investigators continue to review witness statements and video evidence as they work to establish a clearer timeline. The incident joins a pattern of isolated acts of violence in public spaces, where outcomes often hinge on the immediate actions of bystanders and responders rather than broader systemic factors.