He believed two women had come to evict him. In his rage, he grabbed a gun -- and his 8-year-old daughter was the one who didn't survive what followed.
The Shooting
On July 10, 2022, in Helena, Montana, Tony Louis Valez, then 66, became convinced that two women visiting his home intended to evict him. He retrieved a handgun and began firing, first shooting his partner, Heather Hall, until she fell to the ground, then turning the gun toward his 18-year-old son. He missed his son but struck his 8-year-old daughter, Arianna, in the back as she tried to flee the gunfire. She fell from the back deck and was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The Investigation
Helena Police Department Sgt. Adam Shanks testified that Valez appeared to believe his actions toward the adults present were justified, and indicated he may not have initially realized he had struck his daughter.
Charges and Plea
Valez was initially charged with deliberate homicide, two counts of attempted deliberate homicide, and criminal endangerment. In September, he pleaded guilty to one count of deliberate homicide.
Sentencing
Valez''s attorney requested a 40-year sentence. Prosecutor Kevin Downs recommended 100 years, which Lewis and Clark District Court Judge Mike Menahan found appropriate, stating he could not accept that a dispute over eviction justified using a firearm in a small space with children present.
FAQ
What sentence did Tony Valez receive?
100 years in prison, after pleading guilty to one count of deliberate homicide.
Was the shooting intentional?
Valez was aiming at the adults present -- his partner and son -- when he struck his daughter; investigators indicated he may not have initially realized he had hit her.
What prompted the shooting?
Valez believed two women who had come to the home intended to evict him and reacted with gunfire.