Brandon Boudreaux is sharing his account of a 2019 Arizona shooting that prosecutors connected to an alleged plot involving Lori Vallow Daybell. A gunman fired at Boudreaux outside his Gilbert home during a contentious divorce and custody dispute involving Vallow Daybell’s niece. Boudreaux survived, while the suspected shooter, Alex Cox, died before facing charges. After waiting for related criminal proceedings to advance, Boudreaux has published a book describing the ordeal, its effect on his family and the role of faith in his recovery.
| 1) | The 2019 shooting in Gilbert |
| 2) | The divorce and custody dispute |
| 3) | Why Boudreaux wrote his book |
| 4) | The continuing investigation |
| 5) | A message about resilience and value |
The 2019 shooting in Gilbert
On Oct. 2, 2019, Boudreaux was pulling his Tesla into the driveway of his home in Gilbert, Arizona, when a gunman allegedly fired from a parked Jeep Wrangler. Boudreaux said he noticed the vehicle’s rear window open immediately before the shooting. A bullet struck the driver’s-side door and shattered the window, missing his head by inches.
Investigators identified Cox as the suspected shooter soon after the attack, but Cox died in December 2019 without being charged. Prosecutors later alleged that Vallow Daybell recruited her brother to kill Boudreaux while Boudreaux was divorcing Melani Pawlowski, Vallow Daybell’s niece. An Arizona jury convicted Vallow Daybell in June 2025 of conspiring to kill Boudreaux.
The divorce and custody dispute
Boudreaux testified during Vallow Daybell’s Idaho murder trial that his marriage to Pawlowski deteriorated in 2019 as she became closer to Vallow Daybell. The couple filed for divorce in July of that year and later disputed custody of their children.
A 2020 custody filing stated that Pawlowski’s second husband, Ian Pawlowski, said she believed a dark entity or demon had possessed Boudreaux. The filing also alleged that Chad Daybell told Pawlowski something had to happen to Boudreaux to advance his spirit and what he described as the Lord’s plan. Pawlowski has not been charged in connection with the shooting. Boudreaux remarried in 2020 and said the attack, divorce and continuing fear affected his ability to trust people.
Why Boudreaux wrote his book
Boudreaux’s book, Unthinkable, began as a private account for his four children. He wanted them to understand the decisions he made, the mistakes he believes he may have made and the circumstances surrounding the family’s ordeal. He also wanted to explain how faith helped him while allowing his children to choose their own spiritual paths.
“I want them to understand their dad and maybe in understanding their dad and why he made the choices he did, maybe they’ll understand themselves better.”
After relatives and friends read the manuscript, they encouraged him to make it available to the public. Boudreaux said he deliberately waited while investigations and court proceedings continued so that he would not disclose information that could interfere with the cases or his testimony.
The continuing investigation
Boudreaux has declined to discuss details of the shooting investigation, saying law enforcement should handle that work. The Gilbert Police Department has confirmed that the investigation remains active. Because Cox died before charges were filed, the circumstances and any potential involvement by others remain matters for investigators and prosecutors.
The Arizona case formed part of a broader series of convictions involving Vallow Daybell. In 2025, Arizona juries convicted her of conspiring to kill Boudreaux and her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot and killed by Cox in July 2019. In Idaho in 2023, jurors convicted her of murdering her children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua “JJ” Vallow, and conspiring to murder Tammy Daybell, the former wife of Chad Daybell. She was also convicted of grand theft for collecting her children’s Social Security benefits.
A message about resilience and value
Boudreaux said public attention has sometimes been uncomfortable, although he has generally been treated with kindness and respect. He described mistrust as a natural consequence of being shot at and believing that someone continued to look for him.
“Just because something hard happens in your life doesn’t mean that you have to respond a certain way.”
His intended message is that people retain value after traumatic events and can use difficult experiences to help others. Rather than allowing the shooting and its aftermath to determine his future, Boudreaux said he hopes readers will consider how they respond to adversity.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Boudreaux survived a shooting outside his Gilbert home on Oct. 2, 2019. |
| 2 | Prosecutors alleged that Vallow Daybell recruited Cox to kill him during a divorce and custody dispute. |
| 3 | An Arizona jury convicted Vallow Daybell of conspiring to kill Boudreaux in June 2025. |
| 4 | Boudreaux wrote Unthinkable first for his four children and later released it publicly. |
| 5 | Police have said the shooting investigation remains active. |
Summary
Boudreaux’s account adds the survivor’s perspective to a case that has produced convictions in Arizona and Idaho. His book focuses on protecting his family, waiting for legal proceedings to progress and finding a constructive response to trauma. The unresolved investigation into the 2019 shooting remains with law enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Brandon Boudreaux?
A gunman allegedly fired at Boudreaux outside his Gilbert, Arizona, home on Oct. 2, 2019. A bullet struck his vehicle, but he survived.
Who was accused of organizing the shooting?
Prosecutors alleged that Lori Vallow Daybell recruited her brother, Alex Cox, to kill Boudreaux during a divorce and custody dispute. Cox died before facing charges, and an Arizona jury later convicted Vallow Daybell of conspiracy.
Why did Boudreaux publish his book?
He initially wrote Unthinkable for his four children so they could understand the ordeal and his decisions. He later released it publicly after people close to him encouraged him to share his perspective.
Is the shooting investigation closed?
No. The Gilbert Police Department has said the investigation remains active, and Boudreaux has declined to discuss details while leaving the work to law enforcement.
