Idaho Shooting: Armed Bystanders Returned Fire, Saved Lives, Police Say

An armed bystander and off-duty state trooper exchanged gunfire with an active shooter during a deadly incident at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday, which forced the gunman to take cover, law enforcement said on Sunday. The Saturday afternoon shooting left three people dead, including the gunman, 24-year-old Chad Williams, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and seven other people were injured. Police confirmed to Newsweek on Saturday evening the suspect had died and that there was no ongoing threat. "I want to extend my deepest thanks to the off-duty trooper and the good citizen that engaged the shooter. These people are true heroes in our community, and their actions diverted the shooter, and no doubt saved many lives," Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson said during a Sunday press conference. Police Chief Matthew Hicks said both of their actions, "helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties." Law enforcement officers responded to the shooting around 2:30 p.m. local time at the parking lot of the In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, after receiving multiple 911 calls. Ahead of the press conference, authorities had warned of "misinformation" about the shooter's identity and Hicks said an individual that was circulating on social media as the potential shooter had "no involvement in this incident whatsoever." During the Sunday press conference, authorities said two of the injured were treated at a hospital and released, three are in stable condition and two remain in critical condition. In-N-Out said one of its employees was killed in the shooting. The chain's Twin Falls location had just opened on July 24.