Lead

A 35-year-old healthcare worker who returned fire on a gunman at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Saturday has said his impulse to confront the attacker was “automatic” and “mechanical.” Jordan Salinas, who was at the restaurant as a customer, helped police limit the number of victims in the attack that killed three people and wounded several others.

The gunman, identified as Chad Williams, 24, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. Twin Falls police chief Matthew Hicks credited Salinas and an off-duty officer with diverting the shooter with return fire, “preventing further casualties.”

Coverage Comparison

The incident has been covered by two news organisations, each emphasizing different aspects. Al Jazeera focused on the bystander’s heroism, describing Salinas as having been “hailed a ‘hero’ in the United States” for confronting the attacker. The Guardian — World highlighted the healthcare worker’s training background and his own account of the events.

Both outlets reported similar core facts: the shooting occurred on Saturday afternoon at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho; three people were killed and several others wounded; Salinas and an off-duty officer returned fire; and Williams died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A difference in detail: The Guardian reported that “Seven people were wounded in the attack, with two in critical condition,” a claim not present in Al Jazeera’s account. Al Jazeera, in turn, reported that a witness described the attacker as “panicked” and “erratically” moving, a detail not included in The Guardian’s coverage.

Additionally, Al Jazeera reported that the FBI encouraged members of the public with videos or images related to the incident to share them with law enforcement agencies—an element not mentioned in The Guardian’s article.

Key Claims

  • A bystander, Jordan Salinas, confronted an armed man at a shopping centre in Idaho, preventing further casualties. (Both Al Jazeera and The Guardian)
  • The suspect, Chad Williams, killed three people and wounded several others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. (Both outlets)
  • Salinas had been training to handle firearms following a 2021 shooting at the Boise Towne Square mall. (Both outlets; The Guardian specified the training was “serious”)
  • Police credited Salinas and an off-duty officer for diverting the shooter with return fire, preventing further casualties. (Both outlets, quoting police chief Matthew Hicks)
  • Salinas described his impulse to confront the attacker as “automatic” and “mechanical.” (The Guardian, based on Salinas’s interview with the Idaho Statesman)
  • Seven people were wounded in the attack, with two in critical condition. (The Guardian)
  • A witness described the attacker as “panicked” and “erratically” moving. (Al Jazeera)
  • The FBI encouraged members of the public with videos or images related to the incident to share them with law enforcement agencies. (Al Jazeera)

Perspectives

Law Enforcement

Twin Falls police chief Matthew Hicks commended the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen, stating, “We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties.” He also confirmed the suspect’s death was self-inflicted and noted that law enforcement was working to determine a possible motive.

The Bystander

Jordan Salinas, in his interview with the Idaho Statesman, described his response as automatic and mechanical, saying he ran toward the sound of gunfire and fired at the attacker with a semi-automatic pistol. He noted that his training since the 2021 Boise mall shooting prepared him for the moment. “He did not like it when bullets started firing both ways,” Salinas told the outlet.