2 California natives killed in mass shooting at Idaho In-N-Out, families say
Two of the victims killed in a shooting at an In-N-Out restaurant in Idaho over the weekend were reportedly from California.
Authorities in Twin Falls, Idaho, are still working to find a motive behind the deadly shooting on Saturday. The 24-year-old shooter, identified as Chad Williams, died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, according to police.
Three people were killed and seven others were injured when the gunman shot at the In-N-Out restaurant, which had just opened about a week before, drawing big crowds.
MORE: Idaho In-N-Out shooting: Good Samaritan who confronted gunman speaks out
Stockton native In-N-Out worker among those killed
Twenty-three-year-old Stockton native Ashley Garibay was among the three people killed Saturday, her family confirmed. She was an In-N-Out employee and her family says she was in Twin Falls to help train workers at the restaurant.
In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder had not identified Garibay, but confirmed that an In-N-Out worker was among the dead.
"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," Snyder wrote on social media. "He shot both on our property and off, and ended his life shortly after he took the previous lives of our Associate and Customers, innocent people who never saw it coming."
Southern California native among those killed
The New York Times identified Christopher Claunch, a California native from Kern County, as one of the victims killed in the shooting. His sister lives in Rosamond, north of Lancaster.
His sister told the Times that Claunch worked at Renaissance Ranch Recovery Center in Rupert, Idaho. He had lived in the state for about 30 years.
His sister said every time he returned to the Pacific Coast, he made sure to stop at In-N-Out. She said he told her he was going to wait to go to the new Twin Falls, Idaho location until crowds died down.
Sacramento man hurt helping people escape
Sacramento native Austin Scott was shot in the arm and injured while helping people escape. A fundraising campaign has been created to support him.
His friend Aidan Ballard said it is fitting he would put himself in harm's way to help others.
"Knowing his high, up-standing character, it makes a lot of sense to me that he was one of the first people who decided to selflessly serve and jump out of whatever situation he was in," Ballard said.
The moments immediately after the shooting were caught on camera. Video shows customers and employees fleeing the scene, running for their lives.
Another video shows one of two men now being hailed as heroes.
Idaho State Police said an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen returned fire with the suspect, likely saving lives.
"We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and citizen and their heroic action to stop this incident. We believe their actions helped drive this suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties," Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said at a press conference.
Southern California In-N-Out employee survives shooting
Another California In-N-Out employee from West Covina had been sent to Idaho to help train employees at the new fast food location.
The 24-year-old woman ran for her life from the shooting scene. Her parents say they are disappointed in the company's crisis response.
"She's like, hysterical. She's like, 'I'm here. I'm OK. I'm on my friend's phone. We're hiding next door. There's a guy. They're shooting,'" said Michael Ahern, the woman's stepfather. "I was like, 'Ok, are police there?' 'Police are there.' 'You need to breathe. You need to calm down. You need to take a really deep breath.' She's hyperventilating."
"'Mommy, mommy, I'm alive. I'm not hurt.' That was it," said Nikki Ahern, the woman's mother.
The third victim killed in the shooting has not been identified.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
