Armed Bystander Praised for Intervening in Idaho Shooting

An armed bystander acted heroically during a shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in southern Idaho. His actions are credited with diverting the gunman and saving lives. The Idaho Statesman identified the bystander as Jordan Salinas, a 35-year-old healthcare worker.

Salinas recounted his experience to the newspaper. Upon arriving at the restaurant with his girlfriend, he noticed people fleeing. Hearing gunfire, he moved towards it, armed with his semiautomatic pistol. He confronted the gunman, who was attacking vehicles near the drive-thru. Salinas stated he experienced “no fear” while responding to the threat.

“There’s a task that needs to be done, and we’re the ones who need to do it,” Salinas commented.

The incident resulted in four deaths, including the gunman, and injuries to seven others. Two of the injured were treated and released, three remained stable, and two were in critical condition as reported by authorities. The gunman was identified as Chad Williams, age 24, who died by self-inflicted gunshot.

At a news conference, Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson expressed gratitude towards Salinas and an off-duty state trooper for engaging the gunman. Their intervention forced the gunman to retreat. Their identities were not immediately made public.

“These people are true heroes in our community, and their actions diverted the shooter, and no doubt saved many lives,” Johnson acknowledged.

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks emphasized the importance of their actions in preventing further harm.

Investigation Into Motive Underway

Chief Hicks stated detectives are investigating Williams’ motives, with cooperation from his family. Authorities believe Williams acted alone.

“At this time, we are still working to determine the full set of circumstances in this incident,” Hicks noted.

Authorities are seeking potential witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Salinas Trained to Protect Family

Salinas began serious weapon training after witnessing a shooting in a Boise mall in 2021. He expressed concern for his younger, wheelchair-bound brother’s safety. Salinas practiced shooting on weekends but had never aimed at another living being before this incident.

He described the confrontation lasting a few minutes before police arrived, and he subsequently withdrew, allowing them to take control.

In a Facebook post, Salinas thanked supporters and promised a fuller account of events when possible.

“My heart remains with the victims, their families, and everyone affected,” he shared.

In-N-Out Employee Among Victims

The victims included an In-N-Out employee, confirmed by the restaurant’s owner, Lynsi Snyder. She expressed her sorrow in a Facebook statement.

“We lost one of our beautiful Associates tonight,” Snyder stated.

Both the chief operating officer of In-N-Out and Snyder emphasized their commitment to supporting affected families and cooperating with ongoing investigations.