By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-03 14:09:10 | Updated at 2026-08-06 00:58:36
2 days ago
A California woman sent to Idaho to train new In-N-Out employees has been so traumatized by the deadly shooting she can no longer speak, according to her family.
Michael and Nikki Ahearn's 24-year-old daughter was flown out by the company to help train employees at the new Twin Falls location last week.
She was working on Saturday when three people were killed and seven others were injured after a gunman opened fire on the fast-food restaurant.
The shooter, Chad Williams, 24, fired an AK-style rifle at several innocent customers and employees at the Twin Falls location, police said.
The Ahearns, who have not shared their daughter's name, said she pleaded for her mother as she was forced to flee for her life.
'When you hear your kids say that, as a young adult, that they want their mommy, like I don't have it in me to protect against that. I don't have that thick skin,' Michael told KABC.
The couple explained that when their daughter finally called them, all she could say was that she was okay before she became so distraught that she has been unable to speak.
'She's like, "I'm just sorry. I had to run. I had to get out. Everybody was getting out, and I would just push the button, and I had to crawl out. I'm hiding. I'm hiding next door,"' Michael said.
Michael and Nikki Ahearn's 24-year-old daughter was training new employees at the Idaho In-N-Out when a gunman opened fire on the restaurant
Three people were killed, including one employee, and seven others were injured in the rampage
Company police requires employees to store their phones away while they are working, and the Ahearns said their daughter's phone is still stuck at the crime scene.
'We have no access to her. We don't even know which hotel room she's at,' Nikki said.
'When I hear that I can't be there to give her a hug, when I can't just call her, when I can't just reach out whenever I feel like, like there's nothing that we can do at all,' Michael added.
The parents said that they have been informed that In-N-Out is flying their daughter home, but they do not have any information on when.
'The greatest fear that a parent can have is that their child passes before them,' Nikki said.
'A flood of emotion and thoughts are running through my head, but I never thought, you know, my daughter was in a place where there was an active shooter.'
One In-N-Out employee was killed in the rampage, as well as customer Christopher Claunch and another unnamed person.
Authorities said Sunday that two of the injured were treated at a hospital and released, three were listed as stable, and two were in critical condition.
Chad Williams, 24, opened fire at the fast food restaurant in Twin Falls. Police are 'confident' he acted alone in the massacre, Police Chief Matthew Hicks said
The Ahearns, who have not shared their daughter's name, said she pleaded for her mother as she was forced to flee for her life
Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen both fired back and diverted the gunman from the restaurant.
'We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen and their heroic action to stop this incident,' Hicks said.
'We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties.'
The Daily Mail has contacted In-N-Out for comment.
