TWIN FALLS, ID — A man who confronted the gunman in the deadly shooting outside an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls said he saw the suspect aiming a rifle at passing vehicles before stepping in. Jordan Salinas, 35, told ABC News he moved toward the scene after noticing the weapon pointed at cars near the restaurant on Saturday afternoon.
Police say three people were killed and seven others were wounded in the attack outside the Blue Lakes Boulevard location. Five victims were still hospitalized Sunday, including two in critical condition, according to Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks.
Salinas said the suspect appeared calm before gunfire turned the encounter chaotic. Authorities say the suspect, 24-year-old Chad Williams, later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Witness says the suspect was aiming at cars before shots were fired
Salinas said he first noticed the shooter while peeking around a sign near the road. From that position, he said, he could see the rifle pointed toward vehicles passing the restaurant. His account adds a firsthand view of the moments before police say the gunfire left multiple victims dead and injured.
He described the suspect as unnervingly composed while the weapon was trained on traffic. According to Salinas, that changed quickly once the suspect came under fire. He said the man’s confidence disappeared almost immediately after shots were directed back at him.
Police have not said what led Williams to open fire, and investigators are still working to determine a motive. Authorities believe he acted alone.
Police say an armed bystander and an off-duty trooper pushed the gunman away
Chief Hicks said Salinas and an armed off-duty Idaho State Police trooper confronted Williams during the attack. Investigators believe that response drove the suspect away from the restaurant and may have prevented more people from being hurt.
Hicks described the emergency calls as especially alarming, saying 911 dispatchers could hear screams and gunfire in the background. Officers arrived after reports of shots fired at about 2:29 p.m. Saturday.
The chief said the restaurant sits near a busy shopping area where hundreds of people could have been nearby when the violence started. That made the scene, in his words, one of the most chaotic situations a law enforcement officer could face.
Investigators, family members and In-N-Out continue to respond to the aftermath
The FBI is helping Twin Falls police investigate the shooting, and authorities are still asking witnesses to share video or other information that could help piece together what happened. Hicks said Williams’ family is cooperating with investigators.
In-N-Out Burger president Lynsi Snyder said in a social media statement that one of the company’s employees was among those killed. She said the company was mourning with the families and praying for them during what she called a painful time.
With five victims still in the hospital, the focus remains on recovery as detectives continue to work through the motive, sequence of events and what led the gunman to the restaurant parking area.
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