Gunman kills three at In-N-Out Burger's newest Idaho location, one week after opening

Three people were killed and seven others injured when a gunman opened fire Saturday afternoon at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho. The restaurant had opened just over a week earlier on July 24, part of the chain's expansion into the state. Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks confirmed the suspected gunman was found dead near the restaurant after firing both on and off the property.

What happened at the Twin Falls location

The shooting began around 2 p.m. at a busy shopping plaza where hundreds of people were present, according to city spokesperson Josh Palmer. Among the three killed was an In-N-Out employee. Seven others were injured, some critically, and multiple victims were transported to St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center, which said it was working with law enforcement and emergency personnel.

Video recorded from across the street appeared to show a person dressed in black carrying a long rifle toward a white vehicle, opening the driver's door and then the trunk. The driver who captured the footage left the scene, concerned the shooter might be retrieving additional weapons. Hicks described the scene as "very chaotic," and Palmer said it was initially unclear whether the suspected gunman's death was included in the city's reported death toll.

President Lynsi Snyder's statement

In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder said in a Facebook statement that the company lost an employee who was "taking care of our most important asset, our Customers." She described the gunman as firing both on and off In-N-Out property before ending his own life. "My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I've shed," Snyder wrote.

"I am no stranger to loss, but this is so incredibly tough," she added. Snyder said the company would stand alongside the victims' families and support employees and customers who were at the restaurant during the attack. She urged the In-N-Out community to "turn to God, not in anger, but seeking comfort and strength for those who are hurting," and said the company would "do everything we can to learn from this situation."

Investigation and what to watch

The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting Twin Falls police with the investigation. Hicks told reporters he believes "the threat to the community is over." Investigators are working to identify the suspected shooter and determine a motive, and authorities had not released the names, ages, or other identifying details of the victims as of Saturday, pending notification of relatives.

Twin Falls has roughly 56,000 residents and sits about 130 miles southeast of Boise.