Witness Lane Koehn recalled seeing the gunman, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, before rushing to help a wounded employee as chaos unfolded
TWIN FALLS, IDAHO: A witness to the deadly mass shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, has described seeing the gunman fire “at random” into traffic and the restaurant’s drive-thru, while desperately trying to help a wounded employee moments after the attack.
The shooting on Saturday, August 1, left three people dead and seven others injured before authorities said the gunman, identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police have credited an armed civilian and an off-duty Idaho State Police trooper with helping stop the attack before more lives were lost.
Witness says gunman fired into traffic without ‘rhyme or reason’
Lane Koehn said he was stopped at a traffic light next to the newly opened In-N-Out when gunfire suddenly erupted around 2 pm.
He told KTVB he saw bullets strike a vehicle directly in front of him before spotting the shooter about 30 to 40 feet away carrying what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle.
“I couldn’t tell rhyme or reason, and even looking back, I don’t know, it looked like he was shooting at random,” Koehn said. “We’re not talking five shots. It’s a couple of magazines. He would empty one here and reload.”
Koehn recalled the gunman fired into passing vehicles before unloading rounds through what appeared to be the restaurant’s drive-thru window.
Employee dragged wounded co-worker to safety
As Koehn fled the intersection, he saw an armed man inside the drive-thru return fire at the shooter, an intervention he believes prevented even greater loss of life.
“I think he might have saved lives because he distracted the shooter enough to get him to stop firing into traffic,” Koehn said.
After parking nearby, Koehn ran toward the restaurant, where he found a wounded In-N-Out employee lying in the parking lot. Another employee had dragged the victim through parked vehicles to the sidewalk while desperately trying to save her.
“He is totally hysterical, losing his mind,” Koehn recalled. “She was shot through the middle of her chest… and we’re trying to keep her awake, block the wound.”
Emergency responders arrived within minutes, but Koehn said the horrifying scene has stayed with him.
In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder mourns employee killed in attack
As investigators worked to piece together what happened, In-N-Out Burger president Lynsi Snyder paid an emotional tribute to one of the victims, confirming that an employee was among those killed.
“My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed,” Snyder wrote in a statement issued hours after the shooting. “We lost one of our beautiful Associates tonight. 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.”
Snyder said the gunman fired both on and off the restaurant property before taking his own life.
“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 president added that In-N-Out would continue supporting the victims’ families, employees and customers affected by the tragedy.
“We will be mourning with the families and praying for them,” Snyder wrote, urging people to seek comfort through faith rather than anger.
“I love you all, and I ask you to turn to God, not in anger, but seeking comfort and strength for those who are hurting. We will stand together, and we will do everything we can to learn from this situation.”
