Law enforcement agencies in Washington are looking for a man accused of killing his ex-wife and his girlfriend and taking off with his 1-year-old son.
Law enforcement authorities in several jurisdictions are looking for Elias Huizar, a former Yakima Police officer, in connection with the killings, according to police.
Update:
7 p.m. EDT April 23: A former Washington state police officer accused of killing his ex-wife and his girlfriend, then taking off with his 1-year-old son, has been found in Oregon, according to authorities.
Oregon state troopers began chasing ex-Yakima officer Elias Huizar Tuesday afternoon when they saw him driving southbound on Interstate 5 near Eugene, The Associated Press reported, citing West Richland police officials.
Details of the chase were scarce, but the few that were available were shared on the West Richland Police Department’s Facebook page.
“The pursuit ended with (Oregon State Patrol) reporting that the suspect sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, with his current condition unknown,” the social media post stated. “The 1-year-old child, Roman Santos, was taken safely into custody by OSP troopers.”
Washington authorities are planning a news conference for Wednesday to update the public on the case.
Original story:
The West Richland Police Department in a Facebook post said they believe it was Huizar who shot and killed his ex-wife outside William Wiley Elementary School at 3:23 p.m., which is around the time school lets out for the day.
No students were injured in the shooting, but the woman was pronounced dead outside of the school.
A second person, a woman believed to be Huizar’s girlfriend, was found dead in the suspect’s home.
“A second homicide victim was found inside the residence. No information about the victim’s identity is being released at this time, except to say that it is not Huizar but that the victim is a known associate of the suspect,” police stated in a second Facebook post.
“Investigators believe that Huizar is armed and considered dangerous, and is likely to commit more crimes,” police added.
An Amber Alert has been issued for Huizar’s son, Roman. Roman Huizar, who is 1, is around 2 feet tall, weighs 25 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.
Early Tuesday morning, the West Richland Police Department said that Huizar had been spotted in Portland, Oregon, overnight, possibly driving a black sedan.
Huizar is 39 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black hat, black long-sleeved shirt, light blue jeans and black shoes.
Huizar is believed to have originally fled in a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla with license plate number CBZ4745.
The Amber Alert has been extended from Washington to Oregon. Law enforcement authorities say they believe that Huizar is heading to Mexico with the child.
According to the Tri-City Herald, in February, Huizar pled not guilty to child rape charges. He was charged for allegedly raping an unconscious 16-year-old girl at his home.
The Herald also reported that Huizar’s ex-wife filed for a custody change for their two children last week.