Three people are dead and at least two others injured following a shooting Saturday afternoon in Twin Falls, Idaho, near a recently opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant. The incident prompted a massive law enforcement response and temporary lockdown of the surrounding commercial area.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks confirmed that the suspected shooter is among the deceased, though authorities have not yet clarified whether that individual is counted within the total of three fatalities. The number of injured is expected to rise as the investigation continues.
“We believe the threat to the community is over,” Chief Hicks stated during a news conference Saturday evening. “The suspected shooter in this incident is deceased.”
Law enforcement agencies from city, county, and state levels responded to reports of an active shooter situation on Blue Lakes Boulevard North at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time. The location sits within a busy commercial corridor that includes multiple major retail establishments and a movie theater complex, raising concerns about potential casualties among Saturday afternoon shoppers and diners.
Chief Hicks indicated that hundreds of potential witnesses would need to be interviewed as investigators work to piece together the sequence of events. The identity of the suspect and any possible motive remain under investigation at this time.
The shooting prompted immediate safety measures throughout the area. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding district, which was later lifted as the situation stabilized. A nearby Chick-fil-A restaurant announced its closure for the remainder of the day as a precautionary measure. Magic Valley Mall, located in the vicinity, was also closed, with shoppers and employees instructed to remain inside until authorities cleared the area.
Roads that had been closed during the initial response were gradually reopened as the evening progressed, though the investigation remained active.
The In-N-Out location where the shooting occurred represents the California-based chain’s fourth restaurant in Idaho. The establishment had opened its doors just over a week ago, on July 24, according to company records.
Denny Warnick, Chief Operating Officer of In-N-Out, released a statement expressing the company’s grief. “We are heartbroken,” Warnick said. “Our prayers go out to our Customers, our Associates, and all of their families. We are working with the Twin Falls Police Department to assist in the on-going investigation.”
The incident marks another chapter in the ongoing national conversation about public safety and gun violence in American communities. Twin Falls, a city of approximately 50,000 residents in south-central Idaho, now joins the growing list of communities grappling with the aftermath of mass casualty events.
Additional details about the victims and the circumstances surrounding the shooting were not immediately available as authorities continue their investigation. Chief Hicks acknowledged the difficulty of the day for his community, a sentiment that will likely resonate in Twin Falls for some time to come.
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