Twin Falls police said the two intervened during an attack that killed three victims and wounded seven others.
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — An off-duty Idaho state trooper and an armed civilian exchanged gunfire with a shooter outside an In-N-Out Burger, helping force him away from the restaurant during an attack that killed three victims and wounded seven others, police said.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks credited the two people with intervening as the shooting unfolded Saturday afternoon in a crowded shopping area. Investigators believe their response diverted the attacker from the restaurant and prevented additional casualties. The suspected shooter, identified by police as 24-year-old Chad Williams, was later found dead near the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police received reports of gunfire at the restaurant on Blue Lakes Boulevard at about 2:29 p.m. A dispatcher could hear screams and shots in the background of at least one emergency call, Hicks said. Officers from several agencies arrived as customers, employees and other people fled through the parking lot and nearby streets.
Hicks described the scene as among the most chaotic situations officers could face. Hundreds of people may have been in the surrounding commercial district when the shooting began. Witnesses reported seeing people run from the restaurant while others sought shelter or helped those who had been wounded.
The civilian who confronted Williams was also shot and critically wounded, according to the man’s father. Marcus James told CBS News that his son, Austin, came face-to-face with the shooter. Austin James’ wife and a friend, who are both emergency room nurses, treated him at the scene before he was taken to a hospital.
Authorities had not publicly identified the off-duty trooper. Police also had not released a detailed sequence showing when each person fired or whether either intervention round struck Williams. Investigators were reviewing witness accounts, recordings and physical evidence to reconstruct the shooting.
Three victims were killed in the attack, including a woman who worked at the restaurant. In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder confirmed the employee’s death but did not identify her. Snyder said the company was mourning with the families and those who witnessed the violence.
Seven other people were injured. Police said Sunday that two had been treated and released, three were in stable condition and two remained in critical condition. Hicks cautioned that the medical information was preliminary and could change.
Investigators believe Williams acted alone, but they had not determined a motive. Hicks said Williams’ relatives were cooperating with authorities. Police also warned that misinformation had circulated online naming an uninvolved person as the shooter.
The FBI was assisting local investigators and asked members of the public to submit photographs, video or audio recorded around the scene. Twin Falls police continued interviewing witnesses and asked anyone with information to contact the department.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 3, 2026.