SATURDAY UPDATES: Twin Falls police ask public to ‘refrain from sharing’ unconfirmed information about shooting
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10:50PM UPDATE:
The Twin Falls Police Department issued a statement Saturday night, sharing a few more details about the fatal shootings at In-N-Out Burger.
“There is a lot of misinformation going around on social media about the shooter and their identity,” the statement says. “We would ask that people refrain from sharing information in an attempt to not share miss information.”
The statement adds that “the area around In-N-Out Burger and the Twin Falls Visitor Center” will remain closed as law enforcement personnel conduct their investigation. Police asked the public to avoid the area during the investigation, but the statement did not have an estimate for how long that would take.
Police are also asking anyone who might have information related to the shootings and has not already spoken to a law enforcement officer to contact dispatch at 208-735-4357.
10:15PM UPDATE:
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks took the opportunity Saturday to thank all law enforcement officers who responded to the In-N-Out Burger shooting. The Idaho Statesman reports that during his remarks at the press conference, Hicks said the following:
“You should also know that the men and women for your respective law enforcement agencies, your fire service, your ambulance, they have performed at their highest levels today.”
The sheriff went on to say, “This is the most chaotic scene that many of them will ever have in their careers. They rose to their training. They rose to the level that our community expects, and you should be very proud of the women and men that worked for all of your first responders here to try to ascertain this exceptionally chaotic scene.”
7:50PM UPDATE:
Lane Koehn, a witness to Saturday’s chaotic events, told The Associated Press that he was at a stoplight near the In-N-Out when he “saw a person with an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru. A man with a pistol started firing at the shooter.”
Koehn then said he saw “someone in an In-N-Out uniform drag a person, also uniformed, bleeding from a gunshot wound in her chest, across the parking lot.” He says he went to the woman, and he and the man with the pistol stayed with the two employees until the paramedics arrived to treat the woman.
RELATED | Multiple people dead after shooting at In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls
7:33PM UPDATE:
After confirming that the shooter is dead, Chief Matthew Hicks also confirmed that there were other fatalities that resulted from Saturday’s shootings. However, KIVI TV reports that police told reporters gathered for the press conference that they would not publicly confirm the exact number of deaths or identities of those killed on Saturday.
Twin Falls Police Lt. Steven Gassert said the first 911 call about the shooting came in at 2:29 p.m., and hundreds of people witnessed the chaos that unfolded. KMVT reports that investigators from multiple agencies are working to interview all of them.
Watch the press conference in the video player above.
6:20PM UPDATE:
The shooter has been confirmed as dead by the Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks in an evening press conference, KMVT reports.
6:02PM UPDATE:
At least three people are dead, and two injured after a gunman opened fire near the In-N-Out restaurant in Twin Falls on Saturday afternoon, according to NBC News.
The network reported the information during its evening broadcast, saying it was confirmed by Twin Falls city spokesman Josh Palmer. EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to Palmer for more information, but we have not yet received a response.
Videos of a man armed with an assault-style rifle — presumably the alleged shooter — are making the rounds on social media. One video shows the man walking up to a Tesla sedan and firing multiple shots into the windshield before walking away. Another video shows workers and patrons from the In-N-Out restaurant fleeing the building.
5:25PM UPDATE:
This information was written by the KMVT staff:
KMVT News is aware of multiple social media posts that show alleged video and pictures of a shooting suspect at the In-N-Out restaurant. We are still awaiting confirmation from law enforcement regarding any information on shooters and victims. In an effort of clarity and transparency we will not share any of this until it is cleared by proper authorities investigating this incident. We are in contact with law enforcement and will bring you the latest information as it becomes available on air and online.
4:16PM UPDATE:
This information was written by the KMVT staff:
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Twin Falls police confirm they are responding to an active shooter situation in the area of In-N-Out along Blue Lakes Blvd. in Twin Falls.
Rock Creek Fire Chief Aaron Zent told a KMVT reporter on scene that law enforcement is searching the hotel that’s overlooking the visitor center for the shooter.
As of 3:30 p.m., the Perrine Bridge is shut down, along with roads in the area. Police are asking people to stay away from the area.
The parking lot near Dick’s Sporting Good is getting cleared out, according to our reporter on scene. Businesses in the parking lot are on lockdown.
According to our reporter, there are officers from Twins Falls, Buhl, Jerome police departments, and Idaho State Police troopers at the scene.
The Twin Falls Fire Department and Magic Valley Paramedics are also present.
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This is a developing news story that was originally posted at 3:35 p.m. Saturday and has been updated.
CORRECTION: In a previous version, Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks’ rank was incorrectly reported as captain.