A mass shooting occurred on the 1st (local time) at In-N-Out Burger, a U.S. hamburger franchise widely known in Korea, leaving at least three people dead and two injured. With hundreds of people in and around the restaurant, authorities said they expect the number of victims to rise. When police arrived, the suspected shooter was found already dead.
According to major media reports on the 1st, at about 2:30 p.m. local time that day, a gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls in southern Idaho. Local authorities said shortly after the incident that "at least three people were killed and two were injured." The injured were transported to St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center nearby for treatment. Josh Palmer, Twin Falls Spokesperson, said, "We expect the number of casualties to increase from the current tally."
Shortly after the incident, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks held a briefing at the scene and said, "This restaurant is one of the busiest places in southern Idaho," explaining that there were hundreds of people near the site at the time. Police said the suspect is dead. Police said the exact motive and cause of death is under investigation.
Witnesses at the scene told the media they saw a shooter with a lightweight semi-automatic rifle near the drive-thru order stand, and then another man with a handgun fired at the suspect. Witnesses also said they saw a horrific scene in which an employee, shot in the chest, was evacuating a bleeding coworker out of the parking lot. Another video filmed from across the road showed the shooter in black clothing holding a long gun, opening the trunk of a white vehicle and reaching inside.
In a statement, Denny Warnick, In-N-Out's chief operating officer, said he was "heartbroken," adding, "Our prayers go out to our customers, associates and all of their families." Idaho Gov. Brad Little also urged prayers for the community on social media.
Twin Falls is a small city of about 56,000 people located roughly 130 miles (205 kilometers) southeast of Boise, Idaho's capital. Police are controlling roads around the scene and continuing the investigation, including canvassing witnesses.