- Jordan Salinas, a healthcare worker, described his response to the In-N-Out gunman as automatic and mechanical.
- Salinas ran toward the sound of gunfire and drew a semi-automatic pistol with a suppressor from a shoulder holster.
- Salinas exchanged fire with Chad Williams, who had lifted a rifle toward cars; Salinas said, “He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways.”
- Police credited Salinas and an off-duty officer with diverting the shooter with return fire; the attacker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Jack Johnson, the Twin Falls county sheriff, called the two responders true heroes who “diverted the shooter and without a doubt saved many lives.”
- A video from across the street showed a shooter dressed in black walking to a white car with a long rifle, opening the driver-side door and popping the trunk.
- Salinas said he had been training with firearms seriously since a deadly incident at a mall in Boise, Idaho left two dead and four wounded.
- Salinas said he felt no fear and followed four firearm-training steps – “observe, orient, decide [and] act” – after deciding gunmen target “soft targets.”
- Nayeli Rodriguez was inside with her daughters when shots rang out; an employee told people to get down, and an older man protected them before they ran outside.
Authorities are investigating the motive behind a mass shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, where Chad Williams, 24, killed three people and wounded seven others before taking his own life. The incident occurred in a busy shopping plaza, with hundreds present.4
Jordan Salinas, a healthcare worker, returned fire during the attack, which police credit with limiting casualties. Salinas described his response as “automatic” and “mechanical,” having undergone firearm training after a previous mass shooting in Boise, Idaho, in 2021.12
“He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways,” Salinas recounted, noting that he acted on instinct when he saw Williams, who was armed with an AR-style rifle, shooting at cars.
Police Chief Matthew Hicks stated, “We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties.” Salinas, who has been training seriously with firearms, emphasized the importance of preparedness, saying, “Everyone says, ‘It’s not going to happen here,’ but what if it does?”
Williams' family is cooperating with the investigation, and authorities are working to identify the next of kin of the victims. The restaurant had only recently opened as part of the chain's expansion in Idaho, and the community is mourning the loss of life.
As of now, two of the injured are in critical condition, while three others are stable. The investigation continues as the community seeks answers to this tragic event.
“Jordan Salinas, 35, a healthcare worker, said he felt 'no fear' during the exchange, drawing a suppressed pistol after a Boise mall shooting left two dead and four wounded. Police credited Salinas and an off-duty officer with diverting gunman Chad Williams, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; Sheriff Jack Johnson called them 'true heroes.'”
The Guardian
independent.co.uk
