The In-N-Out shooting in Twin Falls has taken a painful step toward normalcy, with the restaurant reopening Friday a week after a gunman opened fire there and left three people dead and seven others injured. The return of customers came as the community continued to absorb the violence and a bystander who confronted the shooter described how a split-second exchange may have helped others escape.
Police said Chad Williams began firing inside the restaurant around 2 p.m. on Aug. 1 before the attack spilled into the parking lot. The gunman killed two people and wounded seven others before turning the gun on himself. In-N-Out said the Twin Falls location reopened “with thoughtful consideration, respect, and care,” and said the company remained focused on honoring those who died and supporting those affected.
Lynsi Snyder, the owner of In-N-Out, thanked local police, firefighters, paramedics, hospital workers and other first responders for their response. She also pointed to the actions of an off-duty Idaho State Trooper and two citizens she said helped distract and drive the suspect away, preventing additional loss of life and injury. Snyder called their actions heroic and said they helped protect others from harm.
One of those citizens was Braxton Steube, who said he came across Williams on a walking trail. Video footage showed Steube speaking to the gunman while holding the man’s weapon, as Williams moved toward him. Steube continued talking to him as Williams walked past, then the gunman fired a shot at him and ran off. The shot missed, and those moments bought time for employees at In-N-Out to get out safely.
