Idaho In-N-Out shooting leaves 3 dead, 7 injured

Three people were killed and seven others wounded when a gunman opened fire at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday afternoon. Police said the suspected shooter was found dead near the building, easing fears of an ongoing threat.

Shooting erupts in busy shopping area

The violence began around 2 p.m. in the parking lot of a shopping plaza filled with hundreds of people. Twin Falls police chief Matthew Hicks described the response as "very chaotic," noting that officers arrived to a scene of panicked crowds and injured victims. The suspect's body was discovered in an area near the restaurant, though authorities have not confirmed whether he was included in the official death toll.

Twin Falls city spokesperson Josh Palmer said officials were still notifying family members on Saturday night, and no names or ages of the victims had been released. "We are working through the process of contacting next of kin," Palmer said, adding that details were limited while the investigation continues.

Witnesses describe terror and heroism

Nayeli Rodriguez, 40, was waiting for her food with her daughters when shots rang out from the kitchen. An employee shouted that it was a shooting and told everyone to get down. Rodriguez said an older man tried to shield her and her daughters, and they were among the last to escape the building.

"We were trying to get as far as we could and some angels let us in their car," Rodriguez recounted. "I left my car there in the parking lot."

Lane Koehn, 34, was stopped at a traffic light when he saw a person carrying an AR-style rifle step out of the drive-thru. Koehn said a man armed with a pistol began shooting at the gunman. He then saw an In-N-Out employee in uniform drag another worker, also in uniform, who had been shot in the chest, across the parking lot. Koehn, the pistol-wielding man, and the employee stayed with the injured woman until paramedics arrived.

"She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it," Koehn said. He also said the shooter fired at least three or four rounds and that it was not clear whether the attack targeted anyone in particular.

Haleigh Dodaro, 43, was in the drive-thru line with her mother when she saw workers bolt from the restaurant. A man directing traffic in a reflective vest warned them about an active shooter. "People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary," Dodaro said.

Video captured by a driver across the street showed the shooter, dressed in black, approaching a white car with a long rifle. He opened the driver's side door and the trunk, then reached inside. The witness fled, fearful the man was retrieving additional weapons.

Hospital response and investigation

Multiple victims were taken to St Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center. Hospital spokesperson Taylor Marschner confirmed the facility was "working closely with law enforcement and emergency responders as they manage the situation."

The In-N-Out location opened on 24 July as part of the burger chain's expansion into Idaho. The shooting has left this small city, roughly 130 miles from Boise, grappling with a tragedy that many thought unlikely in their community.

Community looks for answers

Police are interviewing witnesses, reviewing security footage, and trying to establish a motive. Chief Hicks stressed that the threat to the public has ended, but the investigation is in its early stages. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.

As the city mourns, residents are also expressing concern about gun violence in public spaces. The coming days will likely bring more details about the victims, the shooter's identity, and what may have triggered the attack. For now, the community is left to comfort the wounded and remember the dead.