In-N-Out Burger owner and President Lynsi Snyder has confirmed that one of the victims in a shooting at one of the fast food chain’s locations in Idaho was an employee, later identified by a family representative as 23-year-old manager Ashley Garibay.
Investigators were working Monday to determine what led a 24-year-old man to open fire with an AR-style rifle at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls Saturday, killing three people and wounding seven others before authorities say he took his own life.
According to CNN, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Sunday that detectives are confident the gunman, identified as Chad Williams, acted alone in the shooting at the recently opened restaurant. Williams died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his family is cooperating fully with the investigation, Hicks said.
An off-duty state trooper and a civilian fired on the attacker and diverted him from the restaurant, according to the chief. Twin Falls County Sheriff Jack Johnson praised their intervention, calling them “true heroes in our community” whose actions “diverted the shooter and no doubt saved many lives.”
Police have not officially released the names of the victims out of respect for their families, CNN reported.
However, a relative confirmed to CBS News that 59-year-old Christopher Claunch was among those killed.
Claunch, originally from California, had lived in Idaho for years and worked at Renaissance Ranch Recovery Center in Rupert, Idaho, according to The New York Times. His sister, Kimberly Castaneda, told KTLA that he was an excellent cook and “the life of the party,” adding that if the family holds a memorial, it will be standing room only.
Garibay, also from California, traveled to different store locations as part of her job and was training employees at the newly opened Twin Falls restaurant when the shooting occurred, according to a statement released by her family Monday. Her family said Monday that In-N-Out was her first job, and she dreamed of one day opening her own store.
Garibay’s family started a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of “laying her to rest in the most beautiful way,” describing her as “an amazing, beautiful soul who loved living life… adventurous, outgoing, smart and driven, never letting obstacles get in her way.”
The family added, “We are grateful for the In-N-Out Associates, first responders and those nearby who rushed to Ashley’s aid to comfort her in her final moments on earth.”
Among those injured was Terry Dudley, a driver for North Star Taxi, who friends said was shot twice in the back while charging his Tesla in the restaurant’s parking lot.
A GoFundMe organized by a friend and colleague, James Palmer, described Terry Dudley as a widower raising four children and “the kind of man who quietly puts others before himself, who works hard, loves deeply, and never hesitates to lend a helping hand.” He faces a long recovery, including surgeries and rehabilitation, according to the fundraiser.
Another victim, Steven Pixley, was riding his motorcycle past the restaurant when he was struck by a bullet, according to a GoFundMe started by his cousin, Tracey Evans. “He was simply riding his motorcycle by the restaurant when he was struck by a bullet, becoming an innocent victim of a senseless act of violence,” Evans wrote, adding that Pixley was taken to a Boise hospital for treatment to his elbow.
The restaurant, which opened July 24 as part of the California-based chain’s expansion into Idaho, is located in a busy shopping plaza. Hundreds of people were in the area when the shooting occurred.
In a statement shared Sunday on social media, Snyder confirmed that one of those killed was an employee of the chain, but did not identify the worker at the time.
“To my dear IN-N-OUT customers, and friends and family to both,” Snyder wrote. “My heart is broken, my chest is heavy, my eyes burn from the tears I’ve shed. We lost one of our beautiful associates tonight. 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. He shot both on our property and off, and ended his life shortly after he took the precious lives of our associate and customers, innocent people who never saw it coming.”
Snyder said the entire company “will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season. I am no stranger to loss, but this is so incredibly tough, and my heart also goes out to all of the Associates and Customers who were there during this traumatic event.
In closing, she wrote: “I love you all, and I ask you to turn to God, not in anger, but seeking comfort and strength for those who are hurting. We will stand together, and we will do everything we can to learn from this situation.”
Founded by her grandparents in 1948, Snyder became the sole owner of the company’s stock in 2017, making her one of the youngest billionaires in the U.S. at the time.
Last year, Snyder returned In-N-Out to its roots by relocating its corporate headquarters back to Baldwin Park, California, where the company was founded, and its eastern territory office in Tennessee.
Launched in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder, In-N-Out has since expanded to over 400 locations across eight states, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Idaho. It also holds the sixth-highest position on Glassdoor’s 2024 list of America’s best places to work.
Continue reading
