Nebraska Man Shoots and Kills Texas Victim While Holding Daughter, Charged in Idaho

Tristin Chase, 22, is accused of second-degree murder after shooting Rafael Valles, 43, outside a Rigby, Idaho home while holding his young daughter.

Nebraska Man Kills Texas Victim During Idaho Confrontation, Daughter in His Arms

A 22-year-old Nebraska man has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing a 43-year-old man from Texas outside a residence in Rigby, Idaho — all while holding his young daughter in his arms, Law & Crime reports.

Tristin John Chase faces one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Rafael Valles. The Rigby Police Department placed Chase under arrest during a traffic stop just before 1 p.m. on the day of the incident. He is currently held in the Jefferson County Jail on a $750,000 bond, with a court appearance scheduled for Sept. 3.

The Shooting

The incident took place on the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 23, outside a home on Ashlynn Way in Rigby — a small town roughly 15 miles northeast of Idaho Falls. Officers responded to a report of a man shot in the head and arrived to find one woman crying while holding a child, and another woman performing CPR on Valles. A pool of blood had formed beneath the victim's neck. Responding officers took over lifesaving measures, but Valles was pronounced dead at the scene.

When asked about the firearm, both women at the residence allegedly told officers: "He took it with him." Both also identified Chase as the shooter, according to court documents obtained by East Idaho News and a courtroom report by KIFI.

Chase's Account

While law enforcement was still at the crime scene, Chase allegedly called one of the women present. She handed the phone to a Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputy. In that call, Chase described the confrontation:

> "He ran up on me while I was holding my daughter. I was holding her outside just fine, and he came up on me, and I told him ten times to stay back, and he kept coming up, and he kept coming up… He kept f—ing coming, he kept coming, and I went inside the house, and he kicked the door open, and he hit me with the door, and he tried punching me in the face."

Chase told the deputy he was driving around to "catch his breath" and asked about the condition of his daughter. The deputy confirmed she was unharmed. Chase then asked whether Valles had actually been shot.

"I didn't even f—ing mean to shoot, I don't even know how my gun shot," Chase allegedly told the deputy.

After a period of silence, he hung up. He called back shortly after and allegedly told the deputy he "didn't mean for this to happen" and had repeatedly told the victim "to go away."

Events Leading Up to the Confrontation

Investigators reviewed text messages Chase had sent to one of the women in which he allegedly threatened Valles. That woman told investigators Chase had been at the house unwanted the night before and had refused to leave.

The following morning, Chase went out to get milk for his daughter. The women initially locked him out upon his return but eventually let him back inside. Separately, Valles — aware of the situation at the house — had not heard from one of the women for two hours and went to check on her. The two men argued in the front yard.

The Fatal Moments

According to one of the women at the scene, Chase drew a firearm from his waistband while still holding his daughter. She told investigators the child was "in the path of being shot," prompting Valles to attempt to disarm Chase. Two shots were fired.

"You have a gun?" one of the women shouted after the shooting, according to the charging document. She then took the little girl from Chase as he fled the scene.

Audio recovered from a Ring camera at the residence captured someone shouting "call 911!" while a woman is clearly heard saying: "Mom, he's dead."

Chase was apprehended during a traffic stop shortly before 1 p.m. that same day.

Source: Law & Crime