An armed civilian who confronted the gunman during the deadly shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, said the suspect’s demeanor changed immediately after facing return fire from bystanders attempting to stop the attack, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
Jordan Salinas, 35, described the encounter during interviews after Saturday’s shooting, which left two people dead and seven others injured before the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
According to Salinas, he first noticed 24-year-old Chad Williams standing outside the restaurant with a rifle pointed toward passing vehicles.
“I peeked around the right-hand side of that sign closest to the road, and that’s when I saw the individual with his rifle pointed at the vehicles,” Salinas told ABC News during an interview conducted alongside his girlfriend, Emily Cohelo.
Salinas, who works in healthcare and serves as the full-time caregiver for his brother, said Williams initially appeared calm while aiming his rifle.
“He seemed unusually comfortable aiming that rifle at those cars,” Salinas said. “As soon as some rounds started coming at him, everything changed immediately. All that bravado he had immediately crumbled.”
After observing the suspect, Salinas drew his FN Five-Seven semiautomatic pistol, which was equipped with a suppressor, and fired toward Williams.
He later told the Idaho Statesman that it was the first time he had ever pointed his firearm at another person.
Salinas said he had previously prepared for the possibility of an active shooter after witnessing the 2021 shooting at Boise Towne Square mall, where two people were killed, and several others were wounded.
Jordan Salinas, from Kimberly, Idaho, posted this 2 years ago: “Train like your life depends on it because one day it might.”
He was talking about firearms training.
Yesterday at the Twin Falls In-N-Out he lived it.
He drew his suppressed FN Five-seveN, returned fire on…
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 3, 2026 [2]
Authorities said Salinas was not the only person who confronted the suspect. An off-duty police officer also engaged Williams during the attack.
Investigators believe those actions caused the gunman to leave the immediate area surrounding the restaurant before he entered an open parking lot at the Twin Falls Visitor Center.
Police said Williams later died there from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Twin Falls Police Chief Hicks credited those who confronted the suspect with helping limit the scope of the attack.
“We believe these actions drove the suspect from the scene and prevented further casualties,” Hicks said during a Sunday press conference.
Authorities identified two people who died in the shooting as Christopher Claunch, 59, and 23-year-old In-N-Out employee Ashley Garibay, according to family members.
In addition to the two fatalities, seven people were injured during the incident. Police said five victims remained hospitalized as of Sunday, including two who were listed in critical condition.
Investigators have not announced a motive for the shooting.
Williams previously attended the College of Southern Idaho but later left school. Authorities also noted that he had posted messages on X discussing crime before the attack. Investigators have not said whether those posts were connected to the shooting.
Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the incident, including the suspect’s activities before arriving at the restaurant.
The shooting prompted a large emergency response as officers secured the area, assisted victims and searched for additional threats before determining that the suspect had acted alone.
THE HERO SPEAKS “He seemed incredibly comfortable firing at cars but as soon as rounds started coming at him…EVERYTHING CHANGED… the Bravado crumbled.” – Jordan Salinas
The Twin Falls, Idaho hero definitely saved lives along with the other off duty LEO when they fired on the… pic.twitter.com/KzONXdnaPa [3]
— Johnny St.Pete (@JohnMcCloy) August 4, 2026 [4]
Police have not released additional information regarding what may have motivated Williams, and the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue reviewing evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Authorities have encouraged anyone with additional information or video from the scene to contact investigators as they continue to examine the events surrounding the shooting.