Idaho In-N-Out Shooting Suspect Named — But Police Warn Public About a Second Name Circulating Online

A deadly shooting at one of Idaho's newest In-N-Out restaurants has left investigators identifying the suspected gunman, witnesses recounting scenes of panic, and police warning that false claims online are targeting an innocent person.

A gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls on Saturday afternoon, August 1, 2026, killing three people and injuring seven others in an attack that quickly spread into the restaurant's parking lot.

Opened on July 24, the Twin Falls restaurant had welcomed customers for just over a week before the shooting, according to a KMVT News Facebook post covering its grand opening.

Authorities said he was armed with an AR-style rifle, and video recorded from a nearby vehicle appeared to show him firing toward a blue Tesla before moving across the lot with the weapon.

Witness Describes How the Shooting Unfolded

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said investigators are confident the gunman acted alone. He also commended an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen who confronted the shooter during the attack.

"We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties," Hicks said. Authorities described the response as "very chaotic."

According to police, one In-N-Out employee dragged an injured co-worker across the parking lot while employees and bystanders rushed to help victims before paramedics arrived.

NBC News spoke with witness Lane Koehn, 34, who said he was stopped at a traffic light just outside the restaurant when he saw a man carrying an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru. Koehn said bullets struck the vehicle in front of him as the gunman moved through the drive-thru toward his own car.

Koehn said he could see the gunman reacting to an armed person in the drive-thru who was returning fire with a handgun.

"I could tell he was trying to figure out where to go, and somebody in the drive-thru line with a handgun was shooting at him," Koehn said.

He described the gunman as "panicked," looking around and moving "kind of erratically." Koehn said he believes the exchange of gunfire kept the suspect from targeting more people nearby.

"The shooter was solely focused on him, and [it] allowed us to get out," Koehn told the outlet. "I mean, the car directly ahead of me was getting shot — it gave them time to leave."

Koehn said he did not know what happened before he reached the intersection, but estimated the portion of the incident he witnessed lasted about 10 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, another witness, Twin Falls resident Haley Dodaro, 43, told the Associated Press (AP) that she and her mother were waiting in the drive-thru for lunch when they saw people running across the road and employees rushing out of the restaurant.

Dodaro said she initially thought there had been a fire until a man directing traffic in a reflective vest told them there was a shooter. "So that's when we knew there was a shooting. People were running out crying and screaming. It was very scary," Dodaro recalled.

Police Identify the Suspect

The New York Post reported that police identified the suspect as Chad Williams, 24, during Sunday's press conference.

Authorities said Williams died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the attack. Investigators have not announced a motive, and Hicks said Williams' family has been fully cooperative as detectives continue examining what led to the shooting. "Their hearts are also broken at this time," Hicks added.

Police also provided an update on the victims. Two injured people have been treated and released from the hospital, three remain in stable condition, and two remain in critical condition.

In-N-Out Mourns Those Affected

Following the shooting, In-N-Out owner and president Lynsi Snyder shared a public statement expressing grief over the tragedy and its impact on employees, customers, and their families. The Twin Falls restaurant was the company's 441st location.

Snyder confirmed on Instagram that one of the company's associates was among those killed during the shooting:

"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."

She said the company would mourn alongside the victims' families while supporting employees and customers who witnessed the violence. Snyder described the loss as heartbreaking and encouraged people to seek comfort and strength rather than respond with anger.

She also pledged that In-N-Out would stand together with those affected and "do everything we can to learn from this situation."

Police Warn Against False Claims Online

According to KTVB 7, Hicks warned the public not to share another name that had begun circulating online, stressing that the individual has no connection to the shooting.

Before taking questions, Hicks urged the public to rely on verified information rather than online speculation. "This information is absolutely false. This gentleman has no involvement in this incident whatsoever," Hicks said.

Police also said an active-duty service member who shares the suspect's name has become the target of online harassment and false accusations despite having no involvement in the case.

Online Posts Fuel Speculation

Even as police urged the public to rely on verified information, internet users began searching for details they believed could shed light on the suspect's background.

A widely shared post on X by @_0HOUR1 claimed users were "putting together a puzzle" on Williams after police identified him. The post suggested he may have left college and pointed to what it described as an X account that was last active in April.

It also included screenshots of older posts discussing careers in criminal investigation and federal law enforcement, along with what appeared to be a College of Southern Idaho (CSI) student profile.

Separately, publicly available CSI Student Senate meeting minutes from February 14, 2023, list a person named "Chad Williams" as a student senator. The meeting minutes document attendance and committee assignments but do not include additional identifying information beyond the name.

Community Rallies Around Survivors

As investigators continue gathering evidence, members of the Twin Falls community have begun organizing support for those injured in the shooting.

CBS 2 Idaho News reported that North Star Taxi temporarily closed after one of its drivers, Terry Dudley, was wounded during the attack. In a statement, the company said Dudley was charging his Tesla when he was shot twice in the back.

"Our driver Terry Dudley was the victim of a mass shooting Saturday," the company said. "He is alive but has a very long road ahead of him."

North Star Taxi described the shooting as a tragedy that forever changed the community, saying innocent lives were lost, many others were critically injured, and countless families were left facing unimaginable hardship.

The company asked the public to keep Dudley, the victims, and their families in their thoughts and prayers as recovery efforts continue.

Support has also grown through an online fundraiser created by Dudley's friend, James Palmer, who wrote that he worked alongside Dudley at the same taxi company.

The GoFundMe campaign says Dudley faces multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, mounting medical expenses, and lost income while he recovers from his injuries.

Palmer described Dudley as a widower and devoted father of four who has dedicated himself to raising his children. He wrote that Dudley is known for quietly helping others, calling him compassionate, dependable, and the kind of person every community is better for having.

The fundraiser also says that any money raised beyond Dudley's immediate needs will be shared with other victims and their families to help support their recovery and healing.

"Tragedy has a way of showing us both the worst and the very best of humanity. Yesterday, we witnessed unimaginable evil. Today, we have the opportunity to answer it with compassion, generosity, and love," the statement read.

As of publication, the campaign had raised about $21,800 toward its $40,000 goal through 413 donations.