The tragic shooting at a Twin Falls In-N-Out this past weekend, which left three people dead and seven injured, has triggered a secondary crisis: an uncontrollable deluge of online misinformation. As bystanders captured the chaos on their phones, social media users rapidly filled the information vacuum with unverified claims, falsely identifying suspects, inflating the number of perpetrators, and casting blame on innocent residents. The Twin Falls Police Department has been forced to dedicate significant resources to debunking these viral falsehoods, warning that the spread of such misinformation inflicts profound, unwarranted harm on innocent families.
The most damaging instance of online speculation involved local resident Amer Mandzic, who was erroneously and persistently identified by social media users as the shooter. Despite official, repeated statements from Police Chief Matthew Hicks explicitly clearing Mandzic of any involvement—and even correcting false rumors regarding his employment status—the claims continue to circulate. Police have formally requested that all such misinformation be removed, emphasizing that this digital harassment is causing immense, undue stress to a private citizen and his family who have no connection to the tragedy.
The scope of this digital misinformation extends beyond the false accusation of individuals. In one instance, a blog post on a dubious website erroneously cited authorities to misidentify the perpetrator, and that content remains active despite official corrections. Simultaneously, an active-duty military member who happens to share the same name as the actual shooter, 24-year-old Chad Williams, has been subjected to threats and harassment. The police department has issued a stern warning that any further intimidation or targeting of innocent individuals based on these falsehoods could result in criminal charges.
The chaos of the initial scene, which saw hundreds of people fleeing the area, contributed to the spread of incorrect reports claiming there were multiple gunmen involved. Authorities have since clarified that the suspect acted alone. The confusion stemmed largely from the heroic actions of a private citizen, Jordan Salinas, and an unnamed off-duty police officer, both of whom returned fire. Chief Hicks praised these individuals, noting that their intervention was instrumental in driving the suspect away and preventing further casualties, effectively ending the threat before police could fully secure the area.
Regarding the perpetrator, Chad Williams, law enforcement confirmed that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. While investigations into his background—including his time as a student at the College of Southern Idaho—are ongoing, his motive remains unknown. The Williams family has been notified and is currently cooperating with investigators. Police officials expressed empathy for the family’s grief while continuing to focus their efforts on piecing together the timeline of events to provide answers for the victims and the community at large.
As the investigation continues with the assistance of the FBI, local authorities remain committed to fact-based reporting. Detectives are currently processing evidence, conducting interviews, and reviewing the incident timeline to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attack. In light of the rampant speculation that followed the event, the Twin Falls Police Department continues to urge the public to avoid making assumptions or sharing unverified reports, reminding citizens that in the digital age, premature judgment can have devastating real-world consequences for innocent people.
