A gunman opened fire in a busy commercial area in Twin Falls, Idaho, killing three people and wounding seven others during a shooting that began at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant and spread across several nearby locations. The gunman later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police closed in on him near the edge of the Snake River Canyon.
The attack occurred on Saturday, August 1, at approximately 2:29 p.m., when Twin Falls police received a 911 call reporting an active shooter at the restaurant. The In-N-Out location was relatively new, having opened only days before the attack in one of the city's busiest commercial areas. Police Chief Matthew Hicks later described the scene as exceptionally chaotic because potentially hundreds of people were in the surrounding shopping district at the time.
The gunman was identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams. Authorities said he acted alone, although investigators have not determined what motivated the attack. Williams had connections to both Idaho and Arizona and had previously attended the College of Southern Idaho for a short period.
Police released surveillance footage and body-camera video on Friday, August 7, providing a more detailed account of how the shooting unfolded. The footage showed Williams driving into the restaurant's drive-thru before opening fire. Police said the first person killed was 23-year-old In-N-Out employee Ashley Garibay of Stockton, California.
Williams then moved forward in the drive-thru and fatally shot 59-year-old Christopher Claunch of Hagerman, Idaho. Claunch was remembered by people who knew him for helping others struggling with substance abuse and recovery.
Several people attempted to intervene as the attack continued. Former law enforcement officer Austin “AJ” Scott moved toward the shooting and confronted the gunman but was seriously wounded. An off-duty Idaho State Police trooper who was inside the restaurant also responded, helping employees and customers escape while exchanging gunfire with the attacker.
Police said another bystander attempted to assist the trooper and provide aid to an injured person inside the restaurant but was also shot. Authorities later praised the actions of the off-duty trooper, civilians and others who confronted the gunman, saying their intervention likely prevented additional deaths.
At one point, the gunman's handgun apparently malfunctioned. Police said he returned to his vehicle and retrieved a rifle before continuing the attack. The shooting then moved away from the restaurant and into the surrounding commercial district.
Williams allegedly fired at people in vehicles waiting at a traffic light on Blue Lakes Boulevard, wounding three people. Another armed civilian returned fire, causing Williams to move away from the area and toward a nearby electric-vehicle charging station.
At the charging area, police said Williams fired into vehicles, killing 66-year-old Dale Schultz of Salt Lake City and seriously wounding a passenger traveling with him. Schultz was the third person killed during the attack.
Williams then moved toward the Twin Falls Visitor Center as the first responding officers closed in. People inside the visitor center began evacuating, although police said three individuals were unable to get out and instead sheltered inside while the gunman entered the building.
After leaving the visitor center, Williams encountered people along a nearby walking trail. Police credited one unarmed bystander, Braxton Steube, with confronting and distracting the gunman, giving other people on the trail an opportunity to escape. Williams reportedly fired toward Steube before continuing farther along the trail.
Body-camera footage showed armed officers pursuing the gunman along the trail. An officer eventually located him near the canyon's edge behind the commercial area. Police said Williams then suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and fell into the canyon.
Emergency personnel turned their attention to the victims as officers secured the area. Twin Falls Fire Department crews, Magic Valley Paramedics, Idaho State Police, the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office and other agencies participated in the response.
Police identified the three people killed as Ashley Garibay, Dale Schultz and Christopher Claunch. Twin Falls authorities said seven additional people were injured, some severely. The gunman's death brought the total number of fatalities connected with the incident to four.
The newly released footage also highlighted the actions of civilians and off-duty law enforcement personnel who placed themselves in danger to help others. Police Chief Matthew Hicks praised those who confronted the shooter, assisted wounded victims or helped people escape from the restaurant and surrounding businesses.
The FBI joined local and state authorities in the investigation and helped establish services for victims and their families. A Family Assistance Center was opened in Twin Falls to provide information, victim assistance, counseling resources and help recovering personal belongings left behind during the evacuation.
Investigators have continued interviewing witnesses and examining video, physical evidence and information about the gunman's background. Despite the detailed timeline released by police, authorities have not announced a motive for the attack.
The shooting has left the Twin Falls community mourning three victims while also drawing attention to the actions of people who attempted to stop the attack. Police said the rapid response by civilians, employees, off-duty officers and emergency personnel helped prevent an already deadly incident from becoming even worse.
