Oregon State Police were chasing the suspected West Richland double murderer in central Oregon on Tuesday afternoon when he shot himself.
A West Richland Police news release said Elias Huizar, 39, a former Yakima police officer, was spotted near Eugene and Oregon officers tried to pull him over but he fled with his 1-year-old son.
Oregon state troopers started the chase about 2:45 p.m., according to scanner traffic reported on Facebook. The chase reportedly reached speeds up to 100 mph.
At one point, Huizar lost control of his silver Toyota Corolla and exchanged gunfire before he drove off again, according to OSP Capt. Kyle Kennedy at a 6:40 p.m. news conference in Eugene.
Farther south on Interstate 5, Huiza crashed into a semi truck and trailer that had stopped for a crash on the highway and Huizar spun into the median.
As state police approached, Huizar shot himself. He died at the scene.
"Since the start our goal has been simple, that has been to bring Roman Santos (Huizar) home safely ... and we've done that. Roman is safe in the care of Oregon officials, he is doing well," said Kennedy.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said Interstate 5, about 14 miles north of Eugene, was closed for a time by the crash and police investigation.
The Washington State Patrol reported that the Amber Alert from Monday night for the baby and Huizar had been canceled.
Investigators had been searching for Huizar since he shot his ex-wife Amber Rodriguez, 31, outside of William Wiley Elementary School about 3:20 Monday afternoon.
A GoFundMe campaign confirmed both of Rodriguez's boys, a 9-year-old and 6-year-old, are safe.
When police searched Huizar's West Richland home, they discovered the body of Angelica M. Santos, 17, according to police.
While police have not released the identity of Huizar's girlfriend, a GoFundMe identified her Santos.
Murder and manhunt
Prosecutors charged Huizar with first-degree murder late Monday night and a nationwide arrest warrant was issued.
Just months before she was killed, Rodriguez told a Benton County Superior Court judge she believed she and her children were in danger because of Huizar's mental and emotional instability.
She filed for a custody change just days before the shooting.
Huizar was only charged with his ex-wife's death at the school but not Santos' killing.
Huizar allegedly sneaked onto the Wiley Elementary school grounds and was hiding behind some portable classrooms when students were released on Monday afternoon, according to Richland School District Superintendent Shelley Redinger.
School surveillance cameras reportedly showed him approach Rodriguez with a .40 caliber gun and then fired several shots, according to court documents.
After she fell onto the gravel, Huizar fired more times. Police found eight .40 caliber shells on the ground.
Officers began looking for him and found Santos' body at the South Highlands Boulevard house, less than a block from the school. Police have not said when she may have died. She lived reportedly lived there with Huizar and her baby.
Her 1-year-old was missing and the Amber Alert for the boy and Huizar was issued about 10 p.m. Monday.
West Richland police said on Tuesday that overnight he had been spotted driving in the Portland area.
According to a KOIN 6 news report, he was allegedly seen at a Plaid Pantry gas station on Hayden Island, which is in the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon.
Oregon police staked out key roadways and spotted the Corolla with Washington license plates Tuesday afternoon. West Richland police believed he may have been heading to Mexico.
Community support
While police turned their efforts to finding Huizar, community members turned their support to the families impacted by the shooting.
GoFundMe campaigns were organized for Rodriguez and Santos.
Tara Symons described Rodriguez as a "loving, devoted and fiercely protective mother," in a GoFundMe campaign she created for Rodriguez's family.
"So many in our community and beyond are looking for a way to support Amber's family during this devastating and tragic time," she wrote. "Let's support the family during this horrific time. Funds will be used for the immediate and long-term needs of the children, as well as to lay Amber to rest."
Her 9-year-old son, who witnessed his mother's murder, will need extensive support, said the fundraiser. And her younger son may not understand what happened, but will feel her loss deeply, it said.
The children have a large maternal family who will raise them, Symons wrote.
Santos' aunt, Samantha Deluna created a fundraiser to help with funeral costs. Santos is survived by her son, a brother, mother and grandparents.
"The family appreciates any and all help from the community and loved ones at this time," Deluna wrote. "If you cannot donate, please continue to share and pray for our family."
Sexual assault
Huizar had been facing criminal charges since early February when he allegedly raped a teenage girl after a night of drinking at his home.
His girlfriend witnessed the attack and after an argument grabbed their 10-month-old son and fled the home with the other teen.
Eventually he was arrested at his house after two-hour standoff with the Tri-Cities Regional SWAT team forced their way into the house.
His girlfriend's age raised questions from prosecutors, who felt it was likely they had a sexual relationship before she could legally consent.
But according to court documents, this wasn't the first time rumors about a sexual relationship between the couple had surfaced.
When he was a school resource officer at her school, he got a protection order against the then 13-year-old girl after she allegedly told others they had a sexual relationship.
He had known the girl when she was a student at the same middle school where Huizar had been a school resource officer. He had previously sought and received a protection order against the girl after accusing her of lying about them having sex.
He had been charged with second-degree rape and third-degree rape of a child in connection with the two crimes.
Huizar posted a bond and was released the same day. A protection order was issued for both victims.
Protection order
On Feb. 7, Rodriguez applied for a protection order aimed at keeping Huizar away from her and her kids, just days after he was initially accused of attacking the 16-year-old.
Court Commissioner Bronson Brown initially denied that request.
But Rodriguez returned on Feb. 9 with another request, this time after learning his 17-year-old girlfriend had been the same girl who had alleged that they were having sex when the girl was in middle school.
Huizar was previously diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol use disorder, depression and insomnia. He had stopped treatment for those conditions, Rodriguez said.
The couple had a troubled history in recent years, she said in her request for a protection order. She said Huizar took their children in 2021 and enrolled them in a different school without her permission.
"The respondent made false claims against me with no evidence," according to her statement to the court. "The claim was thrown out and the respondent was ordered to return the children."
Their oldest son told her that Huizar was violent. He allegedly hit the children and his girlfriend, yelled and punched a TV, according to court documents.
He also allegedly left his infant in the care of his other children when he wanted to have sex with his girlfriend.
That time a protection order was issued, and he was supposed to stay 1,000 feet away from Rodriguez and her children. He was also ordered to turn over his gun.
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