They went to work. They went about their day. They were surrounded by ordinary people in an ordinary place — never imagining that they would not make it home.
Three people lost their lives in the devastating shooting at the newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho: 23-year-old Ashley Garibay, 59-year-old Christopher Claunch and 66-year-old Dale Schultz.
Behind each name was a life filled with people who loved them, dreams they were still chasing and families now left trying to understand how everything changed in a matter of minutes.
Ashley Garibay, 23
For Ashley Garibay, In-N-Out wasn’t simply a job. It was where her working life began — and she quickly fell in love with it.
The 23-year-old Stockton, California, native had traveled to Twin Falls to help train employees at the chain’s brand-new restaurant. Her family said she proudly traveled to help open new locations, with a dream of eventually becoming an In-N-Out manager.
”In-N-Out Burger was Ashley’s first job, and she fell in love with it. She proudly traveled to open new stores, and her dream was to one day manage an In-N-Out store. She was passionate about serving Customers and left this world doing what she loved to do,” her family said in a statement, according to ABC News.
Ashley was remembered as adventurous, outgoing, intelligent and determined. Her loved ones said her smile could light up a room and her laugh was contagious.
”Ashley was an amazing, beautiful soul who loved living life,” her family said.
”She was adventurous, outgoing, smart and driven, never letting obstacles get in her way. She lit up a room with her bright smile and a laugh that was contagious. She was a friend to all, and no matter what difficulties she was facing, she always found a way to help others find the light in the darkness.”
In the chaos of the shooting, witnesses saw one In-N-Out employee desperately dragging an injured coworker across the parking lot. That young woman was Ashley.
A bystander stayed with her until paramedics arrived.
But Ashley did not survive.
Her family was left mourning a daughter, sister, auntie, cousin and friend who they say was taken far too soon.
Christopher Claunch, 59
Christopher ”Toph” Claunch had fought his own battles before dedicating himself to helping others.
After years of struggling with alcoholism, Claunch found sobriety two years before his death. He later worked at Renaissance Ranch Recovery Center in Rupert, Idaho — the same kind of place that had helped him turn his own life around.
Claunch had found a meaningful purpose in helping others overcome addiction and begin their own journey toward recovery.
“Claunch was always successful out there, but doing this was definitely the bright spot of his day, of his life, helping others find recovery,” said Garren Taylor, a spokesperson for the Claunch family, told NBC News.
His sister, Kimberly Castaneda, told New York Times that her brother had lived in Idaho for about three decades but never forgot his California roots.
He loved traveling, cooking and spending time outdoors. And whenever he visited California, he made a point of eating at In-N-Out.
When the Twin Falls location opened, Claunch had told his sister he wanted to go — but planned to wait until the opening crowds died down.
Instead, he was among those killed inside the restaurant.
His loved ones are now left remembering a man who had overcome tremendous hardship and used his second chance to help others find their own way forward.
Dale Schultz, 66
Dale Schultz was in Twin Falls with his wife when the shooting erupted.
The 66-year-old Salt Lake City man had been charging their Tesla when the violence began. His wife survived but was seriously injured.
Schultz was remembered by his family as a devoted husband, father and grandfather — a man who had been with his wife since they were teenagers.
They had been married for nearly 50 years, raised three children and helped raise their grandchildren.
”He was a rock in our family, and a rock for her. They’d been together for over 46 years,” his distraught sister-in-law told KIVI.
His wife suffered a shattered collarbone and shrapnel injuries to her arm and is expected to undergo additional surgeries.
”It was a horrible, horrible, horrible act of violence,” her sister said. ”We won’t ever be the same.”
Dale’s family will now have to face the unimaginable task of moving forward without the man they described as the rock of their family.
Ashley’s Mother Is Making One Heartbreaking Plea
As Ashley’s loved ones mourned, her mother, Sabrina, was forced to deal with something no grieving parent should ever have to face. Someone created a fake GoFundMe using Ashley’s name and the tragedy to ask strangers for money.
Sabrina immediately warned people that the fundraiser was not connected to her or the family.
”There is a [GoFundMe] out there it is not me please do not donate,” Sabrina wrote.
Her message was simple: don’t give money to someone pretending to help her daughter.
In the middle of unimaginable grief, Ashley’s mother is now asking the public for one thing — please don’t let anyone take advantage of her daughter’s death.
Ashley should be remembered for who she was: a young woman with a contagious smile, a loving daughter and a dream of one day managing an In-N-Out restaurant.
Christopher should be remembered for the life he rebuilt and the people he helped along the way.
And Dale should be remembered as the devoted husband, father and grandfather whose family described him as their rock.
Three lives.
Three families.
Three stories that should never be forgotten. ❤️
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