Twin Falls police identified 24-year-old Chad Williams as the shooter who killed two people and wounded seven others during Saturday’s deadly attack at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Idaho.
Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Williams died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators are confident Williams acted alone, but police had not announced a motive as of Sunday afternoon.
The three people who died include Williams and two victims. One of the victims was an In-N-Out employee. Authorities said two wounded patients had been treated and released, three remained in stable condition and two were in critical condition.
Police confirm armed response
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, witness Lane Koehn said a pistol-armed man opened fire on Williams after seeing him emerge from the restaurant’s drive-thru with what Koehn described as an AR-style rifle.
Hicks confirmed during Sunday’s briefing that an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen both returned fire and diverted Williams from the restaurant.
“We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” Hicks said.
The acknowledgement marked the first official confirmation of the armed citizen’s role. Video circulated shortly after the attack appeared to show the citizen standing beside a vehicle and firing a handgun. A separate clip appeared to show Williams moving across the parking lot with a long rifle.
Police had not publicly identified either armed responder as of Sunday afternoon. Officials also had not said whether either responder’s gunfire struck Williams.
Officers responded to the Blue Lakes Boulevard restaurant at approximately 2:29 p.m. Saturday. Police initially warned the public against circulating unverified claims about the shooter’s identity while investigators worked to confirm what happened and notify victims’ relatives.
The In-N-Out location had opened July 24, eight days before the attack. The shooting unfolded in a busy commercial district where hundreds of people may have been nearby, according to city officials.
Provided by Dallas Express
