Christopher Claunch had waited for the crowds to fade before visiting the new In-N-Out, his family said.
The California native was among three victims killed during Saturday’s mass shooting in Twin Falls, Idaho. Seven other people were injured in the attack at the recently opened restaurant.
Claunch’s family confirmed his death to major news organizations. Police were still working to determine a motive as the Twin Falls community mourned the victims.
Who was Christopher Claunch?
Claunch, 59, grew up in California but had lived in Idaho for about 30 years. His sister, Kimberly Castaneda, lives in Rosamond, north of Lancaster.
Castaneda told The New York Times that her brother worked at Renaissance Ranch Recovery Center in Rupert, Idaho. The organization provides support to people experiencing addiction and related challenges.
Claunch still had a strong connection to his home state. His sister said he regularly visited In-N-Out whenever he returned to the Pacific Coast.
He had been interested in visiting the new Twin Falls restaurant. However, he reportedly planned to wait until the large opening crowds had become smaller.
The location had opened only about a week before the attack. Its arrival in the southern Idaho community had attracted long lines and considerable attention.
Three victims killed and seven injured
The shooting happened on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in a busy shopping area. Three victims died and seven others suffered injuries, according to police.
Authorities identified the suspected attacker as 24-year-old Chad Williams. Police said he acted alone and died at the scene.
Investigators had not identified a motive as of Monday. Williams’ family was cooperating with the investigation, according to Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks.
The Associated Press reported that investigators were reviewing the attack and seeking information about what led to it.
In-N-Out employee also among the victims
In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder confirmed that a company employee was among those killed. The employee’s family later identified her to CBS News as 23-year-old Ashley Garibay.
Garibay was a California native from Stockton, according to reports. She had traveled to Idaho to help train workers at the new restaurant.
Snyder released a statement expressing grief for the employee, her family, customers, and others affected by the attack.
“My heart is broken,” Snyder wrote. She said the employee had been caring for customers when the violence began.
CBS News confirmed the identities of Claunch and Garibay through their relatives. Authorities had not publicly identified every victim when the initial reports appeared.
California employee escaped the restaurant
Another In-N-Out employee from West Covina, California, had also traveled to Idaho to train staff. The 24-year-old woman escaped from the restaurant and contacted her family from a nearby business.
Her parents said she was frightened but physically safe. They also raised concerns about the support and communication she received following the emergency.
Videos from the area showed customers and workers leaving the restaurant as police arrived. Officials asked the public not to share unverified claims about the victims or suspect.
Citizen and off-duty trooper praised
An armed citizen and an off-duty Idaho State Police trooper confronted the attacker, according to Hicks. Both returned fire during the incident.
Police believe their response pushed the attacker away from the restaurant and created time for others to escape.
“We believe their actions helped drive this suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties,” Hicks said.
Authorities praised both individuals for acting during the emergency. Investigators continue to review their actions as part of the wider case.
Investigation continues as families mourn
Local, state, and federal agencies are helping Twin Falls police examine the shooting. Investigators are reviewing witness interviews, security recordings, photographs, and cellphone videos.
The FBI created a digital portal for evidence connected to the attack. Anyone with relevant material can submit it through the FBI’s Twin Falls shooting page.
For Claunch’s family, the attack took the life of a man who had built a long life in Idaho while keeping close ties to California.
His decision to wait for the restaurant’s opening crowds to fade adds a painful detail to the tragedy. He eventually visited a place connected to memories of home, only to become one of the victims of an attack that has left two states grieving.