What started as a lunch stop turned into a life-or-death situation for Jordan Salinas. The 35-year-old healthcare worker was inside an In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho, when an armed man opened fire on customers and employees on Saturday afternoon. His reaction, along with that of an off-duty Idaho State Police officer, is considered by authorities to have been decisive in preventing a higher number of casualties.
Read more Chess videos | Flood of ideas with only seven pieces on the board
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks reported on Sunday that the attacker was Chad Williams, 24, who acted alone and later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The attack left at least three people dead and seven injured.
Although investigators have not yet determined what motivated the shooting, Hicks assured that the quick response of the armed citizen and the off-duty officer changed the course of events. “We believe their actions helped draw the suspect away from the scene, preventing more victims,” the police chief said during a press conference. He also described their intervention as “heroic” and thanked them for their actions.
The police have not officially identified the citizen who responded to the attacker, but Salinas publicly came forward as the man who fired at Williams and recounted what happened to the local newspaper Idaho Statesman.
According to him, he and his girlfriend had decided to stop to eat before heading to go horseback riding in Hagerman. At first, he thought it was a fire in the restaurant kitchen until he heard several shots and realized there was an active shooter.
Salinas explained that he reacted by following a procedure he had practiced for years: “observe, orient, decide, and act.” He said he began training with weapons after the October 2021 shooting at the Boise Towne Square mall that left two dead, and that until Saturday, he had never pointed a gun at a person.
“He didn’t like it when the bullets started coming both ways,” Salinas said recalling the moment he returned fire on the attacker. He also said he never felt fear during the confrontation. “There is a task that must be done, and we are the ones who must do it,” he said, explaining why he decided to intervene.
Witnesses say that response allowed numerous people to escape the restaurant. Lane Koehn, who was stopped at a traffic light in front of the In-N-Out when the shooting began, told NBC News that he saw the attacker leave the drive-thru area carrying an AR-type rifle and shooting at several vehicles. “I could see he was trying to decide where to go, and someone in the drive-thru line with a pistol was shooting at him,” Koehn told the outlet.
The witness described the attacker as a “panic-stricken” person who moved erratically while looking for new targets. “The shooter was completely focused on him and that allowed us to get out,” Koehn added. “The car right in front of mine was being hit by bullets, and that gave them time to escape.”
Authorities believe that both Salinas and the state officer diverted the attacker’s attention toward them while customers and employees fled the restaurant. Twin Falls County sheriff Jack Johnson praised their reactions. “These people are true heroes in our community. They diverted the attacker and undoubtedly saved many lives,” he said.
Meanwhile, investigators continue reconstructing the sequence of the attack through interviews with hundreds of witnesses and analysis of videos captured by security cameras and cell phones. The FBI also asked the public to share any photos or recordings that could help clarify the facts.
So far, authorities maintain that Williams acted alone and noted that his family is cooperating with the investigation. However, they have not yet been able to establish what led him to open fire in a restaurant full of customers on a Saturday afternoon.
The police confirmed that one of the fatalities was a restaurant employee. In-N-Out Burger president Lynsi Snyder lamented the loss of the worker in a statement released on social media: “We lost one of our beautiful team members. She was taking care of our customers and her life was taken by a human being who did not value the lives of others or his own.”
Among the seven injured is Terry Dudley, a taxi driver who was shot while charging his electric vehicle near the restaurant. According to his family, he remains hospitalized and is showing signs of improvement.
Hours after the attack, Salinas posted a message on Facebook to thank those who supported him, although he asked that attention remain on those directly affected by the tragedy. “My heart remains with the victims, their families, and all those affected by yesterday’s tragedy,” he wrote.