In-N-Out Burger Shooting in Idaho

An employee was among three people killed in a shooting at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in southern Idaho, according to the fast-food chain’s owner. Lynsi Snyder, In-N-Out owner, expressed her grief, stating, “My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed. We lost one of our beautiful Associates tonight.” She added that the company will be mourning with the families and supporting them during this difficult period.

The incident occurred Saturday in Twin Falls, where seven other individuals were injured, some critically. The FBI invited the public to share images and videos related to the shooting. This branch of In-N-Out had opened just a week prior, on July 24, as the California-based company expanded into Idaho.

Authorities continue notifying the victims’ relatives. Snyder did not disclose the identity of the deceased employee. Officials are still in the process of informing relatives about the victims, with no names or other personal details released yet, according to Twin Falls spokesperson Josh Palmer.

Police discovered the suspected gunman’s body near the restaurant. It remains unclear if the gunman is counted among the fatalities. Some victims are in critical condition, as noted by Palmer.

The Twin Falls Police Chief, Matthew Hicks, mentioned efforts to identify the shooter and understand the motive. He assured the community that the threat had ended. Hicks described the scene as chaotic and mentioned a press briefing for the following Sunday afternoon.

Investigators were interviewing witnesses to the event that took place in a bustling shopping plaza. Witnesses, including Lane Koehn, described the chaotic scene. Koehn saw an individual with an AR-style rifle emerging from the drive-thru and a man with a pistol engaging the shooter. Koehn assisted an injured employee until paramedics arrived.

Footage captured by a witness across the street showed a shooter in black approaching a white car, carrying a long rifle, and interacting with the vehicle’s trunk. The witness left, fearing the shooter might access more weapons.

Another witness, Haley Dodaro, was at the drive-thru with her mother when chaos erupted. She described people running and workers fleeing the restaurant upon realizing a shooting was happening.

Inside the restaurant, Nayeli Rodriguez, with her daughters, heard gunshots from the kitchen. An employee instructed them to get down. An older man assisted in protecting them as they exited the building. They were later helped by strangers.

Several victims were transported to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center. Hospital spokesperson Taylor Marschner confirmed collaboration with law enforcement and emergency responders.

Twin Falls is a city of about 56,000 residents, located approximately 130 miles southeast of Boise and 75 miles north of the Nevada border.