A former Washington state school police officer accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife and underage girlfriend killed himself in front of his young son after a chaotic standoff with police, authorities confirmed Friday.
Elias Huizar, 39, was attempting to outrun Oregon State Police near Eugene on Tuesday. It came almost 24 hours after police began searching for a double murderer who took her 1-year-old son by flippers.
Troopers said the former school resource officer reached speeds of up to 160 mph during the chase, which then ended in a highway median.
After exchanging gunfire with the officers, Huizar sped off again, only to crash into a semi-truck further down the interstate.
That’s when the alleged killer pointed a gun at him and fired one shot into his head. Huizar was pronounced dead at the scene.
“From the beginning, our goal was simply to bring Roman Santos home safely…and we accomplished that. Mr. Roman is safe and well in the custody of Oregon State authorities,” Oregon State Police said in a statement. Lt. Kyle Kennedy said.
Investigators had launched a frantic manhunt for Huizar after he allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife, Amber Rodriguez, outside the elementary school where she taught.
While searching for the gunman, a second body was discovered at a home in Washington. Police positively identified the body Wednesday as Angelica Santos. Angelica Santos was a 17-year-old girl accused of raping and impregnating her while working as a school resource officer. her middle school.
At that time, he fled with the infant.
Huizar has been charged in Rodriguez’s death, but Santos has not yet been charged. ” The cause of the young mother’s death is also still under investigation.
This incident is still shrouded in many unknowns, such as which woman was killed first and why this madman went on a rampage. West Richland Police Chief Thomas Grego said. A clue may be that there were “pending criminal charges and, of course, some domestic issues pending in court.”
On the day of the murder, Huizar was due to appear in court on child rape charges for his relationship with Angelica and for allegedly raping her 16-year-old friend, who was rendered unconscious after a night of drinking.
The brutal killings also occurred days after Rodriguez filed a motion to modify the custody arrangements for her two children, ages 5 and 9, citing concerns for their safety.
She has previously expressed concerns about her ex-husband, who she says has been armed and harassing her since their 2020 divorce.
The frightened mother began working as a paraprofessional at William Wiley Elementary School to keep a close eye on her 9-year-old son, a family friend. he told MSNBC.
Sadly, the boy was among several students who witnessed his father allegedly firing eight shots at his mother.
Police are also working to determine where the gun used in the massacre was obtained. Huizar is prohibited from owning any firearms under the protective order he filed against Rodriguez.
Huizar worked for the Yakima Police Department from 2014 to 2021, before retiring “following disciplinary action.” The ministry announced on Tuesday without providing any additional information.
He met Angelica on the job while working as a school resource officer at Washington Middle School in Yakima. Records show she was 11 when they met and 15 when he impregnated her.
He continued to work as a substitute teacher in the Richland School District, and was arrested in February for allegedly raping his underage girlfriend’s unconscious 16-year-old friend after drinking alcohol at his home. According to the district.
