A former police officer suspected in the killing of his ex-wife and girlfriend has been found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Washington’s West Richland Police Department said Tuesday night. The child he was accused of abducting was taken “safely” into custody, the police added.
The suspect — Elias Huizar — was located at approximately 3 p.m., driving southbound on Interstate 5, near Eugene, Oregon, when State Patrol initiated a pursuit, according to West Richland Police Department.
The pursuit ended when Huizar sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to police. Authorities said his current condition is unknown.
The abducted 1-year-old child, Roman Huizar, was taken safely into custody by OSP troopers, police said.
As police searched for the suspect throughout the day Tuesday, he was charged with first-degree premeditated murder for allegedly shooting and killing his ex-wife, 31-year-old Amber Rodriguez, outside Wiley Elementary School on Monday afternoon, officials said.
Authorities allege Huizar shot and killed Rodriguez during school dismissal and was waiting behind a portable area where he knew she would be.
Hours later, authorities said they found another homicide victim, “a known associate of the suspect,” while serving a search warrant at Huizar’s residence. Authorities said in the amber alert for the then-missing child, that Huizar was also suspected of killing his girlfriend.
Police are searching for Elias Huizar, 40, who is on the run after allegedly killing two women and abducting his 1-year-old child in West Richland, Wash., on Monday, April 22, 2024.
KAPP
An Amber Alert was issued Monday following the alleged abduction of the 1-year-old. Authorities have not elaborated on the connection between the suspect and the child.
On Tuesday morning, police said Huizar was possibly seen in Portland, Oregon, overnight, driving a black sedan. A clerk at a convenience store in the city called 911 just before 1 a.m. to report he believed Huizar had stopped to purchase a drink and had a child in the backseat of the car, Portland police told ABC News. Officers responded but did not locate Huizar, the child or the vehicle until Tuesday afternoon.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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