“SHE WAS DOING THE JOB SHE LOVED — THEN HER LIFE WAS TAKEN IN AN INSTANT.” 💔🍔🕊️ Newly released photos reveal the bright smile of a young restaurant employee who had proudly traveled across the country helping open new locations and dreamed of one day managing her own store. Family members say she was known for her kindness, determination, and the way she always brought light to those around her—making the heartbreaking tragedy that unfolded during an ordinary workday even more devastating.

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Heartbreaking photos show murdered In-N-Out worker beaming before Idaho mass shooting

Newly released photos of Idaho shooting victim Ashley Garibay show her proudly beaming in her In-N-Out uniform before a gunman opened fire at the eatery this weekend – tragically killing her.

Garibay, 23, was seen smiling ear-to-ear alongside a coworker outside of an unspecified In-N-Out Burger location, where she “fell in love” with the duties of her first-ever job, her family told The Post in a statement Tuesday.

The Stockton, California, native started working at an In-N-Out location in her hometown in 2019, before beginning to travel with the burger chain’s “All-Star team” to help get new locations off the ground in 2023, according to her family.

Ashley Garibay wearing her In-N-Out uniform.
Ashley Garibay wears her In-N-Out uniform on Sunday, March 29, 2026. Garibay, 23, was identified as the In-N-Out employee who was shot and killed by Chad Williams in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Aug.1, 2026.Courtesy of the Garibay family

“She proudly traveled to open new stores, and her dream was to one day manage an In-N-Out store,” her grieving relatives wrote. “She was passionate about serving Customers and left this world doing what she loved to do.”

Enhanced image of a man in glasses and a dark shirt holding a firearm.
Chad Williams, 24, opened fire at an Idaho In-N-Out on Saturday.X/commandante_

“Ashley was an amazing, beautiful soul who loved living life. 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.

“We are heartbroken and devastated by the loss of Ashley – a devoted daughter, sister, auntie, cousin and friend – whose life was taken from us far too soon,” the family said, adding that they were “grateful” for the coworkers and first responders “who rushed to Ashley’s aid to comfort her in her final moments on earth.”

Garibay’s relatives reiterated that she was “doing what she loved” when gunman Chad Williams, 24, opened fire inside the Twin Falls drive-thru Saturday afternoon, fatally striking their daughter, in the bio of a GoFundMe created Monday to help with the costs of laying her to rest “in the most beautiful way.”

Other heart-wrenching images released by the family show Garibay smiling at a waterfall and posing happily alongside her father, mother and siblings.

In-N-Out Burger President Lynsi Snyder lamented losing “one of our beautiful Associates” in an emotional statement released Sunday.

“She was taking care of our most important asset – our Customers, and her life was taken by a disgusting human who doesn’t value the lives of others or his own.

Ashley Garibay and her mother Sabrina Garibay smiling.
Ashley Garibay (left) and her mother Sabrina Garibay (right) are pictured in an undated photo. Ashley Garibay, 23, was identified as the In-N-Out employee who was shot and killed by Chad Williams in Twin Falls, Idaho, on August 1, 2026.Courtesy of the Garibay family

“IN-N-OUT will be mourning with the families and praying for them as they tread through a very painful season,” Snyder said in the statement, adding that her “heart also goes out to all of the Associates and Customers who were there during this traumatic event.”

Garibay was one of two killed during the shooting, which left several others wounded.

 

Christopher Claunch, 59 – who had been thrilled to visit the restaurant for the first time after its July 24 opening – was also fatally shot.

The horror erupted around 2 p.m. Saturday at the restaurant before spilling into the parking lot in what Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks described as a “very chaotic” scene.

A witness described seeing Williams carrying what appeared to be an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru before two good Samaritans armed with guns fired back at him in the eatery’s parking lot.

One In-N-Out employee was seen dragging a wounded co-worker across the parking lot while others tried to help until paramedics arrived.

Williams – who was acting alone – retreated and was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

On Monday, the family of a 24-year-old California woman who was also working at the In-N-Out location during the shooting revealed that she tearfully told them, “I’m alive,” after escaping the gunfire – but said that one of her co-workers had been shot.

That unidentified employee had traveled alongside Garibay to Twin Falls – where the popular, California-based burger chain’s new location only just opened on July 24 – as part of an “all-star team” brought in to train new associates, her parents told CBS Los Angeles.

SOURCE: NYPOST