Ten people were shot on a normal Saturday afternoon in Twin Falls. A newly opened In-N-Out Burger became the site of sheer terror when 24-year-old Chad Williams opened fire.
Police just released an eight-and-a-half-minute video compilation of bodycam footage and surveillance angles. It cuts through the rumors. It shows exactly how the carnage unfolded across the restaurant, the drive-thru, and a nearby walking trail. Three people died. Seven others suffered gunshot wounds. Discover more on a related topic: this related article.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks called the footage violent and deeply traumatic. Yet, buried inside the chaotic sequence of events are extraordinary acts of civilian courage that stopped the body count from climbing even higher.
Inside the Drive-Thru Chaos
The released footage details a horrifying routine. Williams walked up to the restaurant's drive-thru window four separate times, firing indiscriminately. He killed an In-N-Out employee right at the window. Further analysis by The New York Times delves into similar views on this issue.
Chaos erupted instantly. Diners scrambled for exits. Employees fled toward a nearby walking trail. Bullets struck victims inside the dining room, outside in the parking lot, across a busy adjacent road, and near a vehicle charging station at a local visitors center.
Investigators still lack a clear motive. Williams ultimately died by suicide as officers closed in near a local canyon. But the video proves that police weren't the only ones trying to stop him.
The Untold Story of Civilian and Off-Duty Intervention
Multiple armed citizens confronted the gunman during the rampage. An off-duty state trooper inside the restaurant exchanged gunfire with Williams through the window while directing workers to safety. A former police officer, A.J. James, rushed toward the sound of gunfire and took a bullet while trying to engage the threat. Jordan Salinas, a healthcare worker carrying a concealed pistol, also returned fire from the parking lot, distracting the shooter and cutting short his rampage.
The new footage highlights another remarkable encounter. Braxton Steube, an unarmed employee from a nearby store, fled to a walking trail only to come face-to-face with the gunman.
Steube put his hands in the air. He talked directly to the shooter, saying he had a family and pleading with him to stop.
Chief Hicks praised the young man publicly.
"To that young man, you are a hero," Hicks said during the press conference. "Your courage, your composure, your selflessness in that moment likely gave others the time they needed to escape harm".
Steube recalled that the gunman appeared to tear up before telling him to get away. Williams fired a shot and missed, moving past him before taking his own life.
Looking Past the Tragedy
The victims who lost their lives were identified as 23-year-old Ashley Garibay of Stockton, California, 66-year-old Dale Schultz of Salt Lake City, and 59-year-old Christopher Claunch of Hagerman, Idaho.
The restaurant had just opened on July 24 as part of the fast-food chain's expansion into Idaho. Now, a community is left picking up the pieces.
Review local emergency preparedness guidelines and ensure your family knows primary exit routes in public spaces. Stay vigilant.
