Boise police discover evidence of child abuse, suspect dies while trying to arrest

Boise, Idaho (CBS2) – A former Valley View Elementary School employee is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The injury occurred Friday when Boise police attempted to arrest 22-year-old Gavin Snow.

Boise police, in cooperation with the Boise school district, began investigating Snow on Tuesday afternoon when Boise school administrators learned of the reported allegations and contacted Boise police.

In a news release, Boise police say officers made contact with Snow and confiscated his electronic devices. After obtaining a search warrant for the devices on Friday morning, officers found evidence of child abuse and the production of child sexual abuse material.

On Friday morning, officers tried to arrest Snow at a home in the 5100 block of N. Mountain View Drive. Snow suffered injuries and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when officers arrived. None of the officers used force during the contact.

Snow was a special education assistant at Valley View Elementary School in Boise. Based on the evidence, detectives fear there may be more victims. The Boise Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit and the Boise School District are cooperating with known victims and working to identify other victims. Anyone with additional information about the suspect is asked to call 208-377-6790. Individuals seeking victim services are encouraged to contact the Ada County Victim Services Center.

Below is the email sent to Boise School District families and staff.

Friday, January 10, 2025

Dear Boise School District Families and Staff,

This morning we were notified that former Valley View Elementary School staff member Gavin Snow died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while in custody of Boise Police. At the time, Mr. Snow was on administrative leave from the Boise School District and was under investigation by the Boise Police Department.

Families of students directly impacted by Valley View High School, as well as staff members, were notified this afternoon by Boise School District administrators as well as representatives of the Boise Police Department. Boise Police issued the following press release this afternoon.

The Boise Police Department, in cooperation with the Boise School District, is investigating reports of the production of child sexual abuse material. The investigation began Tuesday afternoon when Boise school administrators learned of the reported allegations and immediately contacted Boise police. Boise Police officers contacted 22-year-old suspect Gavin Snow and seized his electronic devices. After obtaining a search warrant for these devices this morning, officers found evidence of child abuse and the production of child sexual abuse material.

Just after 9 a.m. today, officers attempted to arrest Snow at a home in the 5100 block of N. Mountain View Drive. When police arrived at the home, Snow suffered injuries and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. None of the officers used force during the contact.

Snow was a special education assistant at Valley View Elementary School in Boise. Based on the evidence, detectives fear there may be more victims. The Boise Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit and the Boise School District are working with known victims and are making every effort to identify other victims, if any. Anyone with additional information about the suspect is asked to call 208-377-6790. Individuals seeking victim services are encouraged to contact the Ada County Victim Services Center.

“Our department is committed to investigating all reported crimes and we are working diligently to ensure justice for the victims in this case,” said Boise Police Chief Chris Dennison. “Our goal remains to fully support the victims and their families, while ensuring accountability through a thorough investigation.”

This news is very disturbing for all of us. The safety and well-being of our students and staff is and always will be our highest priority. If you or someone you know needs support, please contact your school’s administration and guidance team. We also encourage you to use the following resources:

Boise Community Resources

Boise School District Support Resources

Mental health and wellness services for students and families

Employee Assistance Program

Behavioral health support for staff

As always, if you or a student have been the victim of sexual harassment or sexual assault involving students or staff, whether it occurred on campus or not, please report it to the District. The District offers a wide range of support to you, whether you wish to make a formal complaint or not. You can do this through various District channels: talk to your advisor, tell your teacher, email [email protected] or use our online request form.

We encourage anyone reporting criminal or potentially criminal activity to contact the Boise Police Department directly. Boise police officers and detectives are committed to conducting a full investigation and cooperating with prosecutors to bring charges. Boise Police Academy officers are also trained to investigate crimes involving juveniles and work with numerous agencies throughout Ada County (juvenile prosecutors, diversion programs, and other juvenile services) to effectively conduct these investigations for the benefit of suspect and victim. Boise Police officers can be reached by calling 208-377-6790.

Parents, staff and students expect schools to be safe and welcoming. We take this responsibility seriously. Thank you for your patience, commitment to your child’s education, and thank you for supporting Boise schools.

Kind regards,

Lisa Roberts, Superintendent

Boise School District