One of the victims of the shooting at a restaurant in the US state of Idaho has been identified as Ashley Garibay, 23, who was killed while at work. The attack, which left three people dead and several others injured, has shaken the Twin Falls community and once again raised questions about safety in public places in the United States.
23-year-old killed while working at the restaurant
Ashley Garibay, from Stockton, California, worked at the newly opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant in the city of Twin Falls. According to information made public, she was on her shift when 24-year-old Chad Williams entered armed with a rifle and opened fire on customers and staff.
Her death was confirmed through social media posts by family members and friends, who remembered the 23-year-old as a kind and energetic young woman.
Three victims and several injured
Ashley Garibay was one of three people who lost their lives in the attack. Among the victims, Cristopher Claunch, 59, has also been identified. He had gone to the restaurant for the first time after it opened on July 24.
The full number of injured has not been detailed here, but the attack is considered one of the most serious incidents in recent years for this area of Idaho.
Police version of the attack
According to Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks, the incident happened at around 2 p.m. on Saturday, and the scene was “extremely chaotic.” The shooting, according to the official account, began inside the restaurant and then continued in the parking lot.
Witnesses said the gunman came out of the drive-thru area with an AR-style weapon and was later met with gunfire from two armed citizens who were at the scene.
Gunman found dead, motive remains unclear
Police said Chad Williams, 24, is believed to have acted alone. According to authorities, after the exchange of gunfire he left the scene and was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation into the motive for the attack remains open. So far, US authorities have not provided a full explanation for the reasons behind the deadly incident.
In-N-Out Burger President Lynsi Snyder expressed grief over the loss of the young employee and said the company would stand by the victims’ families and the staff affected by the attack.
In Twin Falls, the shock remains strong as the victims’ families face the aftermath of an attack that struck a workplace and a public space in the middle of the day.