Twin Falls investigators seek a motive after an In-N-Out attack kills three people, wounds seven and claims an employee’s life.
Twin Falls is reeling after a mass shooting at a new In-N-Out Burger left three people dead and seven others wounded Saturday.
Several victims remain critically injured, and In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder confirmed one of the people killed was an employee.
City spokesperson Josh Palmer said authorities had not determined whether the dead gunman was included among the three reported fatalities.
“Multiple individuals have been transported to St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center. Tragically, there have been fatalities. We are currently working to notify next of kin, and additional details will be released when appropriate,” Twin Falls police said.
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Police Chief Matthew Hicks said the gunman died near the restaurant, but investigators had not identified him or established any motive.
Snyder said the employee died while serving customers during an attack that extended beyond the restaurant’s property.
“She was taking care of our most important asset – our Customers, and her life was taken by a disgusting human who doesn’t value the lives of others or his own,” Snyder wrote. “He shot both on our property and off, and ended his life shortly after he took the previous lives of our Associate and Customers, innocent people who never saw it coming.”
Witnesses described a terrifying scramble as workers fled the building and diners sought protection inside vehicles belonging to strangers.
“So that’s when we knew there was a shooting. People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary,” witness Haley Dodaro said.
Nayeli Rodriguez said an older man shielded her daughters before they escaped among the final customers still inside.
“We were trying to get as far as we could and some angels let us in their car,” Rodriguez said. “I left my car there in the parking lot.”
The Associated Press reported that another armed man fired a pistol toward the rifleman, though police have not officially described that person’s role.
The Twin Falls restaurant opened July 24, barely one week before violence reached a chain usually associated with long lines and regional expansion.
AllHipHop previously covered another mass shooting that killed four people and wounded 10 during a child’s birthday party in Stockton, California.
The FBI is assisting investigators, who plan to release information after victim notifications and witness interviews are completed.
