THIS is the heart-stopping moment a heroic civilian with a handgun attempted to stop the In-N-Out shooting that left at least two dead and seven wounded.
A gunman launched a sudden and seemingly random attack at the burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday afternoon around 2pm, before turning the gun on himself.
A hero armed-civilian opened fire at the gunman during the attack, in a move that is thought to have saved lives Credit: KTVB
The gunman opened fire at the busy shopping plaza at around 2pm on Saturday afternoon Credit: x.com/ScopeReport_
At least three people were killed and seven wounded in the attack Credit: Reuters
The suspected gunman was found dead in an area near the restaurant Credit: AP
Hundreds of people were in the area at the time, Twin Falls police chief Matthew Hicks said at a press conference, as he described the scene as “exceptionally chaotic.”
The identities of those who died, including the gunman, have not yet been confirmed and the conditions of those injured are also unknown.
But a video taken by a witness at a nearby stoplight shows an armed civilian aiming his gun at the shooter and firing shots before ducking behind plants and the In-N-Out sign.
Lane Koehn, who was on his way homefrom work at the time, told KTVB News that the gunman was on a “shooting rampage” and that bullets were flying all around as he appeared to shoot aimlessly and at random.
At one point, the gunman, who Koehn described as “young, pale, with glasses and black hair,” appeared to be targeting traffic at the drive-thru and nearby intersection.
He said the shooter was 30 to 40ft away from him and appeared to be armed with a semi automatic weapon when the heroic civilian opened fire, distracting the gunman.
Koehn said the hero citizen was shooting from a distance but believes it was potentially life- saving by distracting the attacker who stopped firing at traffic.
“He was exchanging fire with this other person with his hand gun,” Koehn told the outlet.
Police described the scene as ‘exceptionally chaotic’ and praised the efforts of first responders Credit: YouTube/Idaho News 6
The ID’s of those who died as well as the conditions of those who were injured are yet to be announced Credit: Reuters
“They were both running around trying to dodge bullets it looked like, and so I went around, there’s people running all over the place, freaking out, and I park and run over to the restaurant.”
He described seeing at least one gunshot victim being helped by a worker from the diner.
Meanwhile, the shooter continued to fire off random shots “I couldn’t tell rhyme or reason..it looked like he was shooting at random…we’re not talking five shots, it’s a couple magazines,” he said.
While the exact number of fatalities is yet to be confirmed, Idaho Falls city spokesperson Josh Palmer said at least three people died and seven were injured.
Police responding to the scene found the body of the suspected gunman in an area near the restaurant.
His ID and motive is still being investigated but there is no further threat to the community, police said.
In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder said her “heart is broken” and confirmed that an employee and customers were killed in the rampage at the restaurant that opened just a week ago on July 24.
“We lost one of our beautiful Associates tonight,” she wrote in a statement on social media.
“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.
“My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed.”
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation.
Anyone with any information about the shooting is urged to come forward.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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