Who Is Chad Williams? What's Known About the Twin Falls In-N-Out Shooting

2026-08-03

A Deadly Saturday Afternoon in Southern Idaho

A gunman opened fire at a recently opened In-N-Out Burger location in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday afternoon, killing three people and injuring seven others before turning the gun on himself. Twin Falls police say 911 calls began flooding in around 2:29 p.m. local time, with dispatchers reporting they could hear screaming and gunshots in the background of the calls. Officers from local, state, and federal agencies responded to the restaurant on Blue Lakes Boulevard, which had only opened as Idaho's fourth In-N-Out location on July 24, roughly a week before the shooting.

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks described the scene facing first responders as one of the most chaotic situations many of them will encounter in their careers, while also praising the actions of law enforcement, fire, and paramedic crews who responded. "Today is a tragic day," Hicks told reporters at an initial briefing.

What's Known About the Suspect

Police identified the shooter as 24-year-old Chad Williams during a Sunday news conference. Williams died from what authorities described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound following the attack. Investigators say they are confident he acted alone, though very few personal details about Williams have been released publicly, and a motive for the shooting remains under investigation. Hicks said Williams' family is cooperating with law enforcement and that "their hearts are also broken at this time."

In an unusual complication, Twin Falls police noted that at least one other person, an active-duty service member who happens to share the same name as the suspect, has faced online harassment and false accusations as a result of the case, and clarified that individual has no connection to the shooting.

A second, unrelated officer-involved shooting occurred shortly afterward as officers searched the area for the suspect, though no one was injured in that separate incident. The Jerome Police Department is leading the investigation into that second shooting.

Heroism Amid the Chaos

Authorities confirmed that an off-duty Idaho State Police trooper and an armed civilian exchanged gunfire with Williams during the attack. Police credited their actions with helping drive the suspect away from the restaurant and potentially preventing further casualties. "We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen and their heroic action to stop this incident," Hicks said.

The Toll: Three Dead, Seven Wounded

Of the seven people injured, two were treated and released from the hospital, three remained in stable condition, and two were listed in critical condition as of Sunday's update, though police cautioned those figures were preliminary and could change. Authorities have not publicly released the names of the three people killed, citing respect for their families. In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder confirmed in a statement that a female employee was among the dead, without identifying her, and said her heart "goes out" to everyone affected, including witnesses who lived through what she called a "traumatic event."

A Mother's Terrifying Wait for Word From Her Daughter

Among those caught in the chaos was a 24-year-old woman from West Covina, California, who had been sent to Twin Falls as part of an "all-star team" of employees assembled to help train new staff at the newly opened location. When the shooting began around 2:30 p.m., she fled the restaurant without her cell phone, cutting off her ability to immediately contact her family.

Her parents, Nikki and Micheal Ahern, learned about the shooting through the Citizen safety app and knew their daughter was inside the store. What followed was an agonizing wait for any word from her. "It felt like being powerless," Nikki said. "It took a long time for clarification." When their daughter finally reached them using a friend's phone, the call was overwhelming. "All she could get out was 'mommy, mommy, mommy,' crying, 'mommy, I'm alive'," Nikki recalled. Micheal said he asked whether police had arrived and whether she was safe, which she confirmed, though she also told him a co-worker had been shot.

The Aherns have since criticized In-N-Out for what they described as a lack of communication with families during the crisis, saying the company should have an emergency contact protocol in place for situations like this. "There's got to be a protocol," Micheal said. "You have an emergency contact list, right?" Their daughter, who was still without a phone as of the latest update, was expected to return home to Southern California on Monday.

Other Witness Accounts

Other bystanders described scenes of panic as the shooting unfolded. Twin Falls resident Haley Dodaro, who was arriving at the restaurant for lunch with her mother, said they saw people running across the road and employees fleeing the building, initially wondering if there had been a fire before a man in a reflective vest told them there was an active shooter. "People were running out crying and screaming," Dodaro said. "It was very scary and terrifying." Other witnesses described the gunman appearing to fire somewhat indiscriminately, including into traffic and toward the restaurant's drive-thru window.

What Comes Next

The FBI confirmed agents were on scene assisting with the investigation, and authorities have asked anyone with information, including video, photos, or other digital evidence, to come forward, setting up a dedicated tip line and online portal for submissions. Roads in the surrounding area, including a nearby bridge, were closed for a period during the investigation. As of the most recent updates, investigators were still working to determine what motivated Williams to carry out the attack.

This is a sensitive and developing story; if you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by call or text at 988.

Sources