A young In-N-Out Burger employee who had traveled from California to Idaho to help support the opening of a new restaurant is being remembered by her family, coworkers and friends after she was killed during a mass shooting that shocked the Twin Falls community.
Ashley Garibay, 23, of Stockton, California, was identified as one of three people killed during the August 1 shooting at the newly opened In-N-Out Burger restaurant in Twin Falls, Idaho. Garibay had been working at the restaurant when the gunman opened fire, turning what should have been an ordinary day at a popular fast-food location into a deadly attack that left three people dead and several others wounded.
Garibay’s death has been particularly painful for those who knew her because she was not simply an employee working at the restaurant. She had traveled to Idaho as part of In-N-Out’s team supporting the new location, helping with the restaurant’s operations and assisting employees as the newly opened store began serving customers. People who knew her have described her as energetic, friendly and deeply committed to her work.
Her family has remembered her as someone whose personality could brighten a room. In statements shared after her death, relatives described a young woman whose smile and presence had a lasting impact on the people around her. Friends and coworkers have also spoken about the shock of losing someone who had been looking forward to the opportunity to help launch the new Idaho location.
The shooting happened Saturday, August 1, at the In-N-Out restaurant on Blue Lakes Boulevard in Twin Falls. Police responded to reports of an active shooter shortly after the attack began. The violence did not remain confined to the restaurant, as the gunman moved through nearby areas during the rampage, firing at people and exchanging gunfire with individuals who attempted to intervene.
Authorities identified the shooter as 24-year-old Chad Williams. Investigators said Williams acted alone and ultimately died by suicide as law enforcement closed in. Police have not announced a clear motive for the attack, and the investigation into why Williams began shooting remains ongoing.
The attack killed three people: Ashley Garibay, 23; Dale Schultz, 66; and Christopher Claunch, 59. Several other people were injured during the incident, including people who were caught in the gunfire or wounded while attempting to escape the area.
Schultz was a longtime Salt Lake City-area resident and artist who was visiting the area. Claunch, from Hagerman, Idaho, was known to people in his community for helping others struggling with substance abuse. Each victim had a different life, family and circle of people who depended on them, and their deaths have left multiple communities mourning at the same time.
In the days following the shooting, investigators worked to reconstruct the attack and determine exactly how it unfolded. That effort took another significant step when authorities released surveillance video showing portions of the gunman’s movements.
The video provided the public with a disturbing visual record of the attack while also giving investigators an opportunity to clarify the sequence of events. Authorities carefully edited the footage to avoid showing graphic images and to protect the identities of people who were not involved in the attack.
The surveillance footage showed Williams approaching the restaurant and opening fire. Investigators said the shooting began around the drive-through area before the gunman moved through other nearby locations. The video also showed people attempting to escape as the situation rapidly deteriorated.
Law enforcement officials praised several people whose actions during the attack may have helped prevent an even greater loss of life. An off-duty Idaho State Police trooper was among those who confronted the gunman. A former law enforcement officer, AJ James, was also wounded while engaging Williams. Another civilian, Braxton Steube, reportedly confronted or distracted the gunman near a trail, an action authorities believe may have delayed Williams and potentially prevented additional victims.
The response was chaotic and dangerous, with law enforcement officers moving into the area while civilians attempted to escape. A nearby motorcyclist, Steven Pixley, was also injured by a bullet during the attack.
The release of the surveillance footage has given the public a clearer understanding of the scale of the violence, but investigators continue to emphasize that the motive remains unknown. Authorities have been examining evidence collected from the scene, witness accounts, surveillance recordings and other information in an effort to understand what led Williams to carry out the attack.
For Garibay’s loved ones, however, the investigation can never change the most painful fact: Ashley was simply doing her job when her life was taken.
Garibay was from Stockton, California, and had built a career with In-N-Out. She was known within the company as an All-Star Associate, a designation that reflects strong performance and commitment. Her trip to Idaho was connected to the opening of the new restaurant, where she was helping support the team during its early days.
The restaurant itself had only recently opened, making the shooting especially devastating for employees who had been preparing for the location’s launch. What should have been a milestone for the company and an exciting new beginning for workers quickly became a scene of terror.
In-N-Out has mourned Garibay publicly and offered support to employees affected by the shooting. Coworkers have described the emotional difficulty of returning to work after losing a colleague in such a sudden and violent way.
The tragedy has also touched the Stockton community, where Garibay grew up and where many friends and relatives continue to remember her. Her death has been described by those close to her as an unimaginable loss for a family who expected a future filled with opportunities, not a funeral for a 23-year-old woman.
The circumstances surrounding the attack have also raised difficult questions about how a gunman was able to carry out such a rapid and deadly assault in a busy public location. Police have not indicated that Garibay or the other victims were specifically targeted. Based on the information publicly released so far, there is no indication that the victims knew the shooter or that they were selected because of a personal relationship.
That makes the attack even more difficult for the families involved. The victims were caught in a sudden act of violence that authorities currently believe was carried out by a lone gunman whose motive remains unclear.
The surveillance footage released by police is expected to become an important part of the continuing investigation. Investigators can use the video to establish the shooter’s movements, compare those movements with witness statements and determine the timing of individual incidents throughout the attack. It may also help authorities identify additional witnesses who have information about what happened before, during or immediately after the shooting.
Despite the availability of the video, authorities have cautioned against drawing conclusions that are not supported by evidence. The footage shows portions of the attack, but it does not necessarily explain what motivated Williams or answer every question surrounding his actions.
The investigation remains active, and officials continue to ask anyone who witnessed the shooting or has relevant information to come forward.
Meanwhile, the communities connected to the victims are beginning the much slower process of mourning.
For Garibay’s family, the days following her death have been filled with memories of a daughter, sister, relative and friend whose life ended far too soon. Her family has spoken about her bright personality and the way she could make people feel welcome.
Her coworkers have also remembered the role she played at In-N-Out and the enthusiasm she brought to her work. The fact that she was in Idaho specifically to help with the company’s newest location has become an especially painful detail for those who knew her. She had traveled there as part of an opportunity that represented professional growth and a new experience. Instead, she became one of the victims of a mass shooting.
The tragedy has also reminded the Twin Falls community of how quickly an ordinary public place can become the center of a devastating emergency. In-N-Out restaurants are generally associated with families, friends, employees and customers sharing a meal. On August 1, that familiar environment was transformed by gunfire and panic.
As investigators continue working to establish a complete account of the attack, there are still important questions surrounding Williams’ motive and the events leading up to the shooting. Authorities have not publicly identified a definitive reason for his actions, and speculation circulating online should not be confused with confirmed investigative findings.
What is known is that three people lost their lives, including a 23-year-old woman who had traveled from California to help build a new chapter for her company.
Ashley Garibay never had the opportunity to return home from Idaho.
Her family is now left with photographs, memories and the stories of the people whose lives she touched. Her coworkers are left to remember the colleague who had come to help open a new restaurant. And the Twin Falls community is left to confront the reality of a violent attack that changed the lives of countless people in a matter of minutes.
The investigation will continue, and authorities may eventually learn more about what drove Chad Williams to attack. But for the families of the victims, no explanation will undo the loss.
Ashley Garibay was 23 years old.
She had a career she cared about, people who loved her and a future that had barely begun to unfold.
Instead of returning to California after helping open a new In-N-Out location, she was remembered as one of three people whose lives were taken in a shooting that Idaho will not soon forget.
Sources: https://www.usatoday.com