Monday, 3 August 2026, 16:01
A shooting at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, left multiple people dead Saturday afternoon, police said. The incident has sent shockwaves through the burger chain, which is headquartered in California.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks described the scene as "very chaotic" at a press conference Saturday evening. Officers closed roads around the restaurant, including the city's famed Perrine Memorial Bridge over the Snake River, and nearby residents were ordered to shelter in place. "We have literally hundreds of people that were in some way, shape or form in the area of this restaurant at the time that are being interviewed right now," Hicks said.
Police responded to a call for shots fired at the In-N-Out on Blue Lakes Boulevard at 2:29 p.m. on Saturday. "A dispatcher could hear screaming and gunshots in the background," Hicks said of the 911 calls. He described the scene officers encountered as "one of the most chaotic instances a law enforcement officer could face in their career." The area around the restaurant and the Twin Falls Visitor Center remained closed Saturday evening while authorities processed the scene.
The death toll was later confirmed as three, with seven others injured. The suspected shooter was found dead at the scene, Hicks said.
Several of the injured remain in critical condition, authorities said, as hospitals in the area work to treat the wounded.
By Sunday afternoon, five of the seven injured victims remained hospitalized, including two in critical condition, according to Hicks.
Michael Dudley told ABC News that his father, Terry Dudley, is among those injured in the shooting. He said his father was shot twice while charging his EV near the In-N-Out and was airlifted to a hospital in Boise for treatment after calling 911 and a friend.
On Sunday, Hicks said the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and identified him as 24-year-old Chad Williams. Hicks also said an off-duty state trooper and a private citizen fired at the suspect during the attack. "We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties," Hicks said. He praised both for their heroic actions in stopping the incident.
A witness told NBC News that an armed bystander may have saved lives by distracting the gunman during the attack.
Hicks said Williams' family members are cooperating with the investigation. "Their hearts are also broken at this time," he said.
In-N-Out revealed earlier this year that it would open the Twin Falls location, the only one in the city, along with five other locations across California, Arizona, Utah and Tennessee. The company's website now lists the Twin Falls restaurant as temporarily closed. In a statement covered by Patch, In-N-Out's CEO, Lynsi Snyder, said she was "heartbroken" over the mass shooting at the newly opened restaurant.
In a statement posted on social media, Snyder, who is In-N-Out's president, said an employee was among those shot and killed. "In-N-Out will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season," she said.
In-N-Out Burger was founded in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California, and remains headquartered in Irvine. The chain is deeply woven into Southern California culture, and news of violence at any of its locations resonates strongly in its home state. The company is known for its strict quality standards and loyal following, making the Idaho shooting particularly jarring for California customers.
The Twin Falls restaurant was part of In-N-Out's expansion into new states. The chain has been growing steadily beyond its California roots, opening locations in Texas, Colorado and elsewhere. Mass shootings at fast-food restaurants are rare, but they have occurred in other states in recent years. The FBI is now assisting Twin Falls police in determining a motive.
Twin Falls is a city of more than 56,000 people about 128 miles southeast of Boise. Idaho Gov. Brad Little asked for prayers on social media "as law enforcement and first responders respond to an active shooter situation near In-N-Out." The FBI also is asking anyone with video, audio or still images that may have captured the shooting to submit them.
As the investigation continues, authorities have stressed that the threat to the community is over. The shooter has been identified as Chad Williams. Authorities have confirmed three deaths and seven injuries. For now, the focus is on supporting the victims and the community of Twin Falls.
