TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Multiple people were killed and several others were injured after a shooting near a shopping center in Twin Falls on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said the suspected shooter was among the dead. However, officials had not yet confirmed the total number of fatalities or injuries as they worked to notify victims’ families.
“We believe the threat to the community is over,” Hicks said during a news conference. He described the incident as “a very chaotic scene.”
Authorities are continuing to investigate the shooter’s identity and possible motive.
Investigation Remains in Early Stages
Police said they are working to determine who the shooter was and what may have led to the attack.
“We are working, trying to ascertain his identity and the motivation behind that,” Hicks said.
A spokesperson for the Twin Falls Police Department told NBC News that three people were dead. It was not immediately clear whether that total included the suspected shooter. That information has not been independently confirmed.
Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke said Sheriff Jack Johnson informed him that five people were injured in the shooting.
Officials cautioned that casualty figures could change as the investigation continues.
Shooting Reported Near In-N-Out Burger
The Twin Falls Police Department said officers responded to reports of an active shooter near an In-N-Out Burger at approximately 3:20 p.m. Mountain Time.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene.
Videos circulating online appeared to show an individual carrying a rifle and firing shots in the parking lot. The authenticity of those videos has not been independently verified.
Witness Describes Chaotic Scene
Witness Lane Koehn said he was stopped at a nearby traffic light when he saw a person carrying what he described as an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru area.
According to Koehn, another individual armed with a handgun fired at the suspected shooter.
Koehn also said he saw an In-N-Out employee pull another employee, who appeared to have suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, across the parking lot while awaiting emergency medical personnel.
“She was pretty bad off, but I don’t know. I hope she made it,” Koehn said.
Police instructed Koehn and others to evacuate because the shooting remained active.
His account has not been independently verified by authorities.
Large Police Response
Authorities said approximately 100 people were believed to have been in the area at the time of the shooting.
Investigators began transporting witnesses to separate locations for interviews as officers secured the scene.
“We’re loading people up, all the witnesses, and taking them to different locations for interviews,” Reinke said.
The shelter-in-place order issued during the incident has since been lifted.
Road Closures Continue
Several roads surrounding the area, including the Perrine Bridge, remained closed Saturday evening as investigators processed the crime scene.
Police urged motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes while the investigation continues.
Hospital Responds
St. Luke’s Magic Valley said it was coordinating with law enforcement and emergency responders.
In a statement, hospital spokesperson Taylor Marschner said the medical center was “working closely with law enforcement and emergency responders as they manage the situation.”
Hospital officials did not immediately provide information about the conditions of those injured.
Background
Mass shootings remain a significant public safety concern across the United States. Investigations into these incidents often take days or weeks as authorities work to identify victims, determine motives and reconstruct the sequence of events.
Why It Matters
The shooting has shaken the Twin Falls community and prompted a large law enforcement response. Officials are expected to release additional information as investigators identify victims and determine what led to the attack.
What’s Next
Police will continue interviewing witnesses, processing evidence and working to identify the suspected shooter.
Authorities are expected to provide updated casualty figures and additional details as the investigation progresses.
Conclusion
The investigation into Saturday’s deadly shooting in Twin Falls remains in its early stages. While police say the immediate threat has ended, many questions remain unanswered as authorities work to determine the suspect’s identity, motive and the full extent of the casualties.
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes available.
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