He trained every weekend in the desert outside Eden, a small town in Jerome County, drilling a four-step military framework — observe, orient, decide, act — even though he never expected to use it.
On Saturday, he did. Salinas drew his FN Five-Seven pistol, moved toward the gunfire, and located Williams by the drive-through window before firing.
Police say the gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger before the violence spread into the parking lot. Investigators are also urging the public not to share unverified information as the case continues. | Source: Getty Images
Police say the gunman opened fire at an In-N-Out Burger before the violence spread into the parking lot. Investigators are also urging the public not to share unverified information as the case continues. | Source: Getty Images
Tactical Desert Training Prepares a Quiet Hero for a Deadly Encounter
Salinas said he felt "no fear" throughout the encounter, focusing instead on the steps he'd rehearsed for years. His entire exchange with Williams lasted only two or three minutes before the gunman fled toward the visitor center.
"There's a task that needs to be done, and we're the ones who need to do it," he said afterward. Police have not officially confirmed Salinas by name, and both the Twin Falls Police Department and city spokespeople declined to comment when asked directly. His girlfriend, however, confirmed his role in confronting the shooter.
In his most detailed account yet with ABC News, Salinas described peering around a traffic sign closest to the road. He spotted Williams pointing his rifle directly at passing cars, looking eerily calm until return fire began. | Source: YouTube/@ABC7
In his most detailed account yet with ABC News, Salinas described peering around a traffic sign closest to the road. He spotted Williams pointing his rifle directly at passing cars, looking eerily calm until return fire began. | Source: YouTube/@ABC7
On Monday, Salinas sat down with ABC News for his most detailed account yet of what he saw and did during those frantic minutes. In the interview, reported by TMZ, Salinas described peering around a traffic sign closest to the road and spotting Williams pointing his rifle directly at passing vehicles. Williams appeared eerily calm — until Salinas opened fire.
"He seemed unusually comfortable aiming that rifle at those cars. And then, as soon as some rounds started coming at him, everything changed immediately. All that bravado he had immediately crumbled," Salinas shared.
Salinas also noted that he was not the only one who stepped up that day — dozens of other bystanders rushed in to provide first aid to the wounded alongside first responders.
