A gunman carrying an AR-style rifle took the lives of three people and wounded seven others at a brand new In-N-Out location in Twin Falls, Idaho on Saturday afternoon. The restaurant had only been serving customers since July 24 as part of the chain's expansion into the state, as Trending Politics reported. The location sits in a crowded shopping plaza alongside major retail stores and a movie theater complex.
Law enforcement from the Twin Falls Police Department, the county sheriff's office, Idaho State Police, and numerous additional agencies rushed to the scene after receiving reports of an active shooter at approximately 2:29 p.m. local time. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks held a press conference later that day, describing what unfolded as "a very chaotic scene" and calling it "a very hard day" for the community.
Authorities confirmed by Sunday morning that three people lost their lives and seven others sustained injuries, with some of the wounded reportedly in critical condition at a local hospital. The suspected gunman is also deceased, with his body discovered near the restaurant. City public information officer Josh Palmer noted that investigators had not yet clarified whether the shooter was counted among the three confirmed fatalities. The names, ages, and other identifying information about the victims have been withheld while officials work to reach family members.
Hicks stated during the press conference that the shooter is believed to have been acting alone. He also noted that literally hundreds of individuals who were in the vicinity of the restaurant when shots rang out were being interviewed by investigators.
One witness, 34 year old Lane Koehn, provided a harrowing account of what he saw. Koehn told reporters he was waiting at a nearby traffic light when he spotted someone wielding an AR-style rifle coming from the drive-thru area. He also observed a bystander who appeared to confront the gunman using a handgun. Koehn then watched as an In-N-Out worker in uniform pulled a fellow employee, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest, across the parking lot. Koehn, the uniformed employee, and the armed civilian stayed with the injured person until emergency medical personnel arrived on scene.
Social media footage obtained by CBS News captured people running through the shopping center parking lot as the sound of multiple gunshots echoed in the background.
Both the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have joined local law enforcement in investigating the shooting. Officials are continuing to conduct witness interviews and have asked anyone with relevant information to reach out to authorities.
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