According to a video footage and eyewitness accounts, a shooting incident occurred in the business district of Twin Falls, Idaho on Saturday afternoon (August 1st). When the gunman began shooting towards the In-N-Out restaurant, an unnamed citizen bravely returned fire, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
The video quickly went viral on social media platforms.
Lane Koehn, who filmed the incident from his car, stated that the actions of this “good Samaritan” likely saved many lives by diverting the gunman’s attention, giving customers and staff inside the crowded burger joint a better chance to escape and seek cover.
Recalling the events, 34-year-old Koehn explained that he was waiting at a traffic light near the In-N-Out restaurant when he saw someone carrying an AR-style rifle burst out from the drive-thru lane, followed by a “second person” who started shooting at him with a handgun.
He then witnessed a woman in an In-N-Out uniform bleeding from her chest, being dragged across the parking lot by another uniformed individual.
Koehn, the armed citizen, and the uniformed employee stayed with the injured staff member until medical personnel arrived.
Speaking to local media outlet KPTV, Koehn said, “She was in a bad situation, but I don’t know the outcome, I hope she pulls through.”
The latest reports indicate that the shooting incident resulted in three fatalities and seven injuries, with several individuals in critical condition.
Authorities have stated that the gunman is believed to have died by suicide. The identity of the gunman and the motive behind the crime have not been disclosed by the police.
City spokesperson Josh Palmer mentioned that the body of the suspected gunman was found near the restaurant, but Palmer expressed uncertainty whether the gunman’s death would be included in the city’s official death toll.
Lynsi Snyder, the president of In-N-Out Burger, mentioned that the fast-food chain had just opened a week ago, and the shooting incident resulted in the deaths of one employee and several customers, leaving her “heartbroken.”
Snyder confirmed that the gunman had fired shots both inside and outside the In-N-Out restaurant before taking his own life shortly after killing the staff and customers.
She expressed, “I’ve experienced the pain of losing loved ones, but this time it’s just unbearable. My heart goes out to all my colleagues and customers who were present during this traumatic event… Please turn to God, seek comfort and strength instead of carrying anger, to help those who are injured.”
(This article references reports from The New York Post and FOX NEWS)