Rigby murder suspect held 2-year-old child during fatal shooting, court docs reveal
RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 22-year-old man charged with second-degree murder made his first court appearance Monday following a fatal Sunday afternoon shooting in Rigby. Prosecutors revealed during the hearing that the suspect, Tristin John Chase, was allegedly holding a two-year-old child in his arms when the shots were fired.
Chase faces the felony charge in connection with the death of 43-year-old Rafael Valles of Cedar Creek, Texas. During the arraignment, Judge Faren Eddins set Chase’s bond at $750,000.
According to court documents, officers with the Rigby Police Department responded to a report of shots fired involving two men on Ashlyn Way shortly after noon on Sunday.
As police arrived at the scene, an officer found a woman holding a child and crying loudly, while another woman attempted to perform CPR on Valles. Noting blood pooling from under Valles’ neck, the officer immediately took over life-saving measures. However, the officer was unable to locate a pulse and found Valles was not breathing.
“Though additional life-saving measures were provided…Valles passed away at the scene,” states the release from the Rigby Police.
Witnesses inside the residence told police they saw Chase shoot Valles before running into a nearby parking lot with the gun. The department alerted neighboring agencies and initiated a search for the suspect.
Court Documents Detail Events Leading to ShootingThe probable cause affidavit paints a picture of the events leading up to the fatal encounter. Court records show officers reviewed text exchanges from earlier that morning between Chase and his Ex.
Around 10:02 a.m., the woman had texted Chase accusing him of forcing himself on her the night before and stating, “I’m going to the cops for a restraining order and to tell them… I want you out of my life,” according to court documents.
According to court records, the child’s grandmother told police Chase had allegedly “forced” his way into the home the night before and made her daughter, his child’s mother, go to dinner with him. The woman told police there were times Chase had “forced himself” on his Ex.
Another text message from 10:27 a.m. shows Chase demanding Valles’ phone number and threatening violence, writing: “I’m gonna make sure this fool n its pain,” and threatening to go to Valles’ Airbnb and “shoot it up.”
The grandmother told investigators that Valles had come to the residence after being unable to reach her daughter for two hours. She told police an argument broke out outside and moved indoors.
According to court documents and Ring doorbell footage timestamped at 11:57 a.m., Chase entered the home carrying his toddler daughter in his left arm and pulled a handgun from his waistband. Valles followed closely behind, kicking the door open as he entered.
The women told police Valles attempted to grab the handgun to protect the people in the home. Two shots were fired shortly after. The grandmother immediately grabbed the child from Chase’s arms and confronted him before Chase ran on foot. Audio from the Ring camera captured screams of “Call 911!” and a woman shouting, “Mom, he’s dead!”
Phone Call with PoliceWhile fleeing the scene, Chase called one of the women at the residence. According to court documents, an officer took over the phone to negotiate his surrender.
During the recorded call, Chase appeared panicked, stating he was “freaking out,” driving around to catch his breath, and considering ending his own life to avoid prison.
Chase claimed to police that Rafael had aggressively approached him while he was holding his daughter, kicked the door open, and tried to hit him. He admitted to discharging the weapon but claimed it was an accident or self-defense.
“I didn’t even (explicative) mean to shoot, I don’t even know how my gun shot,” Chase told the officer, adding, “It was not my fault that it happened.” Afterwards, Chase fell silent before briefly hanging up and calling back.
Officers eventually persuaded Chase to return to town, where he was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop near the 300 block of West 1st South in Rigby, just before 1 p.m.
“This is a very active, ongoing investigation and further details may be released at a later time,” the Rigby Police Department said in a press release. “Our condolences go out to Mr. Valles’ family and loved ones.”
Chase is currently being held at the Jefferson County Jail awaiting his next court appearance on Sept. 3.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Local News 8 will continue to provide updates throughout the afternoon.
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