Twin Falls In-N-Out shooting leaves 3 dead, 7 injured

Saturday afternoon transformed from a routine weekend in a bustling southern Idaho commercial district into a scene of sudden violence when gunfire erupted near the drive-thru of a recently opened In-N-Out Burger. Hundreds of shoppers and families packed the area around 2 p.m. On Saturday afternoon when an armed individual emerged from the drive-thru lane with an AR-style rifle, shattering a newly established neighborhood routine that had begun just weeks prior on July 24 as part of the company's regional expansion.

The ensuing chaos left three people dead—including the suspected gunman—and seven others injured, some critically, according to figures provided by Twin Falls city public information officer Josh Palmer and reported by Wtap. Local law enforcement, the Idaho State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation mobilized a massive response, enacting immediate road closures and locking down the nearby Perrine Bridge as panicked bystanders and fleeing kitchen staff scrambled for cover.

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Witness accounts paint a picture of rapid civilian intervention amid the confusion. Lane Koehn, 34, told reporters he was stopped at a nearby traffic light when he observed the gunman step out of the drive-thru area before a separate armed individual carrying a pistol began returning fire. Koehn subsequently witnessed a restaurant employee drag a wounded coworker, bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest, across the parking lot. Koehn, the employee, and the armed bystander stayed with the victim until paramedics arrived, as detailed by Yahoo News.

Inside the building, diners experienced similar terror. Haley Dodaro, 43, and her mother were waiting in the drive-thru line when they saw workers bolting from the restaurant and people fleeing across the road, initially suspecting a fire before a traffic marshal warned them of an active shooter. Nayeli Rodriguez, who was inside with her daughters, recalled hearing shots ring out from the kitchen area while an employee directed patrons to get down, eventually escaping with the help of a stranger who sheltered them in a vehicle, according to AP reporting.

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks stated during a press conference that he did not yet know the exact death toll or casualty count, noting that officials were still in the process of notifying next of kin, reported The News. Hicks confirmed that the suspected gunman was found dead near the restaurant and declared that the public threat to the community was over, describing the event as a very chaotic scene.

The wounded victims were rushed to St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center, where hospital spokesperson Taylor Marschner confirmed the institution was working closely with emergency responders. Meanwhile, investigators are interviewing hundreds of witnesses from the commercial district to establish the gunman's identity and determine a motive.

Investigation and Community Impact

According to The News, the initial emergency notification came through around 2:30 p.m. Local time, prompting multi-agency involvement. As reported by Yahoo News, Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke stated that he learned of the incident just before 4 p.m., at which point Sheriff Jack Johnson had indicated five people were hurt before the official toll rose to three dead and seven injured. Tempo.co noted that the Los Angeles Times reported nearby residents were briefly instructed to shelter in place while authorities searched the area.

• In-N-Out Burger location opened: July 24
• Estimated city population: 56,000 residents
• Geographic position: About 130 miles southeast of Boise and 75 miles north of the Nevada border

As detailed by the Associated Press, the restaurant itself has been listed as temporarily closed following the violence. With the immediate threat declared over by law enforcement, the next step involves investigators interviewing hundreds of witnesses from the commercial district to establish the gunman's identity and determine a motive.

Multi-Agency Response and Ongoing Inquiry

According to Reuters reporting cited by The News, the active shooter emergency notification was transmitted at around 2:30 ⁠p.m. Local time (2030 GMT) near an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in a high-traffic commercial area. Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke stated that he learned of the incident just before 4 p.m. Reinke, who is also former prison chief for the Idaho Department of Corrections, said he learned of the incident just before 4 p.m. And multiple agencies responded. Reinke, who serves as the former prison chief for the Idaho Department of Corrections as noted by Yahoo News, learned from Sheriff Jack Johnson that five people were hurt.

As detailed by Tempo.co citing the Los Angeles Times and local television station KTVB, local residents were briefly instructed to shelter in place while authorities searched the area. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was dispatched to assist local law enforcement with the investigation. Local law enforcement, Idaho State Police, and the FBI responded to the chaotic scene, locking down nearby roads and the Perrine Bridge, while the Los Angeles Times noted that local television station KTVB reported that at least three people were killed and two others were injured, although police have not officially confirmed those figures.

• Initial emergency notification: Approximately 2:30 p.m. Local time
• Commissioner informed: Just before 4 p.m. Local time
• Responding federal agency: Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Official medical transport: St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center

Authorities have asked anyone with information, photographs, or videos related to the shooting to contact investigators as the inquiry continues. As the commercial district remains cordoned off and the restaurant lists the location as temporarily closed following the shooting, the next step involves police officials are interviewing hundreds of witnesses who were in the busy shopping district during the shooting, trying to identify the ​gunman and ​determine motives ​for the shooting as part of the probe.