TWIN FALLS — On the afternoon of Aug. 1, Gabrielle Burton was at the Twin Falls Visitor Center leading one of her regular group outings when gunfire erupted less than 500 feet away at the In-N-Out Burger drive-thru.
Burton, 61, runs a small tour company that brings visitors to the canyon rim to view the Snake River and the Perrine Bridge. That day her passengers were a busload of what she calls her “super-seniors,” visitors age 75 and older. They had parked a yellow coach outside the window-walled visitor center and were watching a BASE jumper drift toward the river when the first shots were fired.
Inside the center, the sound of gunfire was not immediately obvious. The clock was nearing 2:30 p.m., and patrons did not at first recognize the danger. Local officials later reported a mass shooting at the nearby restaurant that left three people dead and seven wounded.
Immediate response
Burton said she realized the group was in danger and moved quickly to hide and evacuate people. In the ensuing minutes she shepherded roughly three dozen people — staff and visitors included — to safety inside the visitor center and away from the shooter’s path.
“What was the choice? If I didn’t do what I did, we’d all have gotten shot. There was no choice.”
Local law enforcement would later describe Burton’s actions as heroic. She, for her part, said she is uncomfortable with that label but defended her decisions as necessary to keep her group alive.
Setting and timing
The Twin Falls Visitor Center sits on the rim of the Snake River Canyon, adjacent to a hotel under construction. The In-N-Out Burger where the shooting began is less than 500 feet away from the center. The tour group had been scheduled for a low-key stop: view the canyon, browse the visitor center gift shop stocked with regional souvenirs and Evel Knievel memorabilia, and enjoy the sight of a BASE jumper descending from the Perrine Bridge.
When patrons first thought they heard gunfire, Burton initially dismissed the sound as fireworks. Moments later it became clear the noise was gunshots and that a shooter was active in the area. She then acted to get people hidden and away from windows and doors.
Aftermath and community impact
The shooting left the community shaken. Dozens of people inside the visitor center avoided physical harm thanks to the quick actions of staff and visitors, even as three people lost their lives and seven others suffered injuries at the restaurant and nearby areas.
Officials have continued investigating the shooting. In the meantime, local leaders and community members have acknowledged the stress this incident has placed on residents and tourists, particularly older visitors who were close to the scene.
- Who was involved: Gabrielle Burton, 61, tour guide and operator in Twin Falls.
- Victims: Three killed, seven wounded in the shooting at the In-N-Out Burger.
- People protected: About three dozen people inside the visitor center escaped during Burton’s response.
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| People evacuated/kept safe | About 36 |
| Fatalities | 3 |
| Injured | 7 |
As investigations continue, the community has begun piecing together timelines and accounts from witnesses. Burton’s account underscores how quickly situations can escalate and how decisive action by bystanders and staff can alter outcomes.
Authorities have not released additional names or details about the victims in the shooting beyond the casualty figures. The visitor center and surrounding businesses remain points of focus for both the ongoing investigation and the community’s recovery efforts.
Emergency response officials continue to urge residents and visitors to remain aware of their surroundings and to follow law enforcement instructions during active incidents.
— Bethany Lund, WE NEWS
