Heroic California high school grad seriously injured after confronting Idaho In-N-Out shooter

Heroic California high school grad seriously injured after confronting Idaho In-N-Out shooter

A Northern California man who graduated from Antelope High School was seriously wounded after rushing toward the gunman during the deadly mass shooting at an Idaho In-N-Out Burger, according to his family.

Austin James, an Antelope High graduate and former Twin Falls police officer, was waiting in the restaurant’s drive-thru with his wife when gunfire erupted, his father told KCRA.

Austin James, left, was wounded in a shooting at an In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls on Aug. 1. givessndgo
An enhanced image shows the moment gunmen open fire outside an In-N-Out in Idaho, sparking mass panic. X/commandante_

Instead of fleeing, James ran toward the shooter in an effort to stop the attack. He was struck in the arm and suffered serious injuries.

His wife, an emergency room nurse, immediately rushed to his aid before helping get him to a nearby hospital, his father said.

Former Twin Falls police officer Austin James was seriously injured while trying to stop a shooter, with his wife providing critical aid. KCRA3
A still image captured from video by a witness shows the scene of a shooting that started at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant on Saturday, August 1, 2026, in Twin Falls, Idaho. (Kevin Bell Jr.) Kevin Bell Jr. via AP

James attended Antelope High School, where he played volleyball, before going on to study at Brigham Young University.

The shooting left three people dead and seven others injured, including James, authorities said. Police identified the gunman as 24-year-old Chad Williams, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the attack. Investigators believe he acted alone and have not announced a motive.

Ashley Garibay is pictured in a photo on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Garibay, 23, has been identified as the In-N-Out employee who was shot and killed by Chad Williams in Twin Falls, Idaho, on August 1, 2026. Courtesy of the Garibay family

Among those killed was Ashley Garibay, a Stockton-based In-N-Out manager who had traveled to the company’s newly opened Twin Falls restaurant to help train employees. Her family confirmed her identity to KCRA. Garibay worked at the In-NOut location on March Lane in Stockton.

As of Sunday afternoon, authorities said two victims remained in critical condition, while three others were listed in stable condition. Two additional victims had been treated and released from the hospital.

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