Jordan Salinas used a silenced FN 5.7 inspired by ‘Splinter Cell’ to help stop the In-N-Out shooter

Authorities say 24-year-old Chad Williams opened fire at the In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho on Aug. 1, 2026. Tragically, three people were killed and seven others were wounded. But the casualty count might have been much higher if not for the heroic actions of bystanders who helped evacuate the area and render first aid to victims.

One bystander who stood out was Jordan Salinas, an armed, private citizen, who engaged the shooter.

From the many requests for long-form interviews that he received, Salinas chose to appear on the GarandThumb YouTube channel, hosted by Air Force Special Warfare veteran Mike Jones.

Salinas, a YouTuber himself with the channel Poverty Operator, confirmed that his concealed carry weapon that day was an FN Five-seveN USG, of course chambered in 5.7x28mm. Those familiar with the weapon likely played “Counter-Strike” or, like Salinas, “Splinter Cell.”

Inspired to take up firearms training after the 2021 Boise Towne Square Mall shooting, Salinas built his carry platform similarly to the video game character Sam Fisher’s iconic weapon. In his interview on GarandThumb, Salinas confirmed that his FN was equipped with a RovyVon GL4 Pro light/laser and a B&T 5.7mm suppressor.

Despite his channel name, Salinas’ setup retails for over $1,500. What makes the 5.7mm platform even more expensive is the ammo. Salinas’ specific ammo choice reflects careful thought on its real-world use.

“The first round that was chambered was a subsonic,” he told Jones. “I had the subsonic in there to essentially eat up the air in the can, because the subsequent rounds were the Black Dragon Fangs.”

With a subsonic first round, Salinas reduced the first round pop through his suppressed weapon. Manufactured by Vanguard Outfitters, the 34-grain Black Dragon Fang ammo that followed uses a copper alloy and is designed to deliver a high level of accuracy while promoting energy transfer in soft tissue. This mitigates overpenetration, an extremely important factor in a situation like Salinas found himself in.

When his plans for a protein style, animal style Double-Double were interrupted, Salinas moved toward the commotion to assess the situation. A fleeing bystander reported an active shooter to him, and Salinas took cover. After getting a visual on the bad guy, who was shooting into traffic, Salinas confirmed the threat and drew his weapon from his Amazon shoulder holster.

It’s important to note that Salinas was not the only person to run towards the danger that day. Austin “AJ” James, a former Twin Falls police officer, ran towards the shooter from the drive-thru and was shot in the arm. An off-duty Idaho state trooper helped to evacuate workers from the In-N-Out kitchen before engaging the shooter through the drive-thru window. A female bystander also picked up the shooter’s handgun, after he ditched it, securing it from further use.

“I think [she] is, honestly, the bravest person in this whole situation,” Salinas said of the woman.

With the threat confirmed, Salinas ensured that there were no civilians in his line of fire and that he had a solid backstop to ensure that none of his rounds would endanger anyone else.

“Fortunately, there was a brick service building in the corner of that parking lot, and that was my backstop,” Salinas recounted. “So, I was like, ‘Alright, green light.’”

Following his first shot, Salinas recalls seeing the shooter flinch hard.

“I don’t know if that’s because it was hit. I’m still in the dark,” he told Jones, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation into the incident. “I’m wondering just as much as everyone else, but that first shot, he definitely heard it or felt it.”

Regardless of whether or not his shot connected, Salinas interrupted the shooter and caused him to change his actions. However, Salinas’ weapon malfunctioned. Thanks to his regular training, Salinas cleared the malfunction while maintaining a visual on the shooter before reengaging. After Salinas’ first shot made the shooter think twice, the distance between them widened from about 50 to 60 yards.

Thanks to his suppressor, Salinas was able to keep his location concealed from the shooter. Unable to confirm where he was taking rounds from, the shooter turned and fled.

Unfortunately, this put him in an area with bystanders and without a solid backstop which forced Salinas to hold his fire.

“I couldn’t take those shots,” Salinas said.

Maneuvering for a better angle, Salinas moved to nearby bushes which offered him concealment. With a dumpster as his new backstop, Salinas opened fire on the suspect again.

“[The shooter] was trying to get out of there. He started to panic,” Salinas recalled. “You could just tell that that control he thought he had was slipping away.”

Shortly thereafter, police arrived on scene and Salinas holstered his weapon before relaying the most up-to-date information he could to the officers. In addition to firearms training, Salinas learned first aid and proceeded to help with treating victims.

With police in pursuit, the shooter took his own life.

“The protector in me is going to be frustrated if none of [my] shots landed,” Salinas admitted, “but, the Christian in me is going to be okay with it.”

Despite not having military or police training, Salinas’ private training prepared him to do everything correctly in the active shooter situation he found himself in. The Twin Falls Police Department noted that the actions of Salinas and the other good Samaritans saved lives. In a ceremony attended by Idaho lawmakers, Salinas was honored with a 25-ounce .999 Silver Bullet Award by Money Metals Exchange.

With his weapon in evidence lockup as part of the investigation, Salinas received a replacement via Jones.

“AxArms has sent you a brand new Five-seveN with an optic on it… Sons of Liberty has sent you a brand new MK1 because they’re very proud of you as well,” Jones told Salinas at the end of the interview. “JK Armament, [a] little Idaho suppressor company, also has a couple cans as a thank you.”

Although Salinas and Jones noted that a Five-seveN with an optic would lose some of the “Splinter Cell” vibes, “Splinter Cell: Conviction” did allow players to add a reflex sight to Sam Fisher’s Five-seveN.

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