A 24-year-old gunman killed three people and wounded seven others at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. Among the dead was 23-year-old employee Ashley Garibay of Stockton, California, while the attacker, Chad Williams, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The violence erupted shortly after 2 p.m. at the restaurant, which had opened its doors on July 24. Witnesses described a very chaotic scene as the gunman, identified as Chad Williams, emerged from the drive-thru carrying what appeared to be an AR-style rifle and opened fire both inside the establishment and in the parking lot.
The Loss of Ashley Garibay
One of the three victims was 23-year-old Ashley Garibay, a Stockton, California native. While the nonprofit Youth Peace & Justice Foundation stated that Garibay was an In-N-Out manager, her family shared that the restaurant was her first job and she had a dream of one day managing a store. Garibay had traveled to the Twin Falls location to train workers at the new outlet.
Garibay’s family described her as a kind, adventurous and driven young woman whose bright smile and infectious laugh touched everyone she met,
stating she always put others first, helping people through difficult times despite her own challenges.
They noted that she proudly traveled to open new stores
and was passionate about serving Customers.
We lost one of our beautiful associates tonight. She was taking care of our most important asset — our customers, and her life was taken by a disgusting human who doesn’t value the lives of others or his own. He shot both on our property and off, and ended his life shortly after he took the precious lives of our associate and customers, innocent people who never saw it coming.
Lynsi Snyder, In-N-Out Burger President
Family and friends remembered Garibay on social media as a kind and adventurous young woman. Her friend, Alissa Juarez, wrote in a Facebook tribute, Oh my beautiful friend … my heart breaks seeing your pictures knowing they’ll just be memories now.
Her mother, Sabrina Garibay, shared a photo of herself smiling side-by-side with her daughter. Garibay’s family expressed gratitude toward the In-N-Out Associates, first responders and those nearby who rushed to Ashley’s aid to comfort her in her final moments on earth.
Another identified victim was 59-year-old Cristopher Claunch, who had visited the restaurant for the first time following its recent opening.
Armed Intervention by Bystanders
The scale of the tragedy may have been larger if not for the intervention of two armed bystanders, including an off-duty officer. Jordan Salinas, a 35-year-old healthcare worker, reported that he was stopping for lunch at about 2.30pm before a horseback riding date with his girlfriend when he heard the “pop-pop-pop” of gunfire and saw people fleeing.
Salinas, who is a full-time caregiver for his brother, drew a semi-automatic pistol with a suppressor fixed to its barrel from a shoulder holster and returned fire toward Williams, who was standing by the drive-through window.
Salinas told the Idaho Statesman that his response was automatic and mechanical, based on a four-step training process: observe, orient, decide [and] act. He had pursued serious firearm training following a deadly shooting at a mall in Boise, reasoning that those in wheelchairs and their aides are often soft targets. The Boise shooting left two dead and four wounded.
We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties.
Matthew Hicks, Twin Falls Police Chief
Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson echoed this sentiment, stating that the bystanders diverted the shooter and saved many lives.
Casualties and Scene Logistics
Beyond the three fatalities, seven people were wounded during the rampage.
- Two individuals were treated at a hospital and discharged.
- Three victims were listed as stable.
- Two remain in critical condition.
The chaos of the scene was captured in bystander videos. Amidst the gunfire, one In-N-Out employee dragged a wounded co-worker across the parking lot to safety.
Ongoing Investigation and Motive
Authorities have confirmed that Chad Williams acted alone. While the shooting ended when Williams took his own life, investigators have not yet released a possible motive for the attack.
The FBI is currently conducting a thorough investigation into the event. Officials have asked the public to submit any photos or videos of the shooting through the FBI’s tip website.
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