Elias Huizar: Amber Alert suspect, former police officer, substitute teacher

Amber Alert issued for 1-year-old son of murder suspect Elias Huizar, who shot himself after police chase. Child safe in custody.

The Pacific Northwest was rocked late Monday night by an Amber Alert involving a 1-year-old boy, the son of a man accused of two murders earlier that day. The suspect, Elias Huizar, sparked a massive search effort as photos flooded social media and police worked to locate the missing child.

On Tuesday afternoon, officials revealed that Huizar shot himself as a police chase ended on Interstate 5 north of Eugene, Ore. His current condition remains unclear, but his son is safe in police custody.

Huizar became a fugitive after allegedly shooting and killing his ex-wife, Amber Marie Rodriguez, at William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland, Wash. The shooting occurred as classes were dismissed, with Huizar fleeing the scene and later being linked to another woman found dead in a nearby home.

Authorities disclosed that Huizar had been working as a substitute teacher for the district, with no prior red flags in his background checks. However, he was removed from his position after the district received notice of his arrest on rape charges.

Court documents revealed that Huizar was accused of impregnating a 15-year-old girl in 2022, with allegations stemming from his time working at a middle school. He had also been employed by the Yakima Police Department, although the circumstances surrounding his retirement remain unclear.

An Amber Alert initially described Huizar as driving a silver Toyota Corolla, but he was later spotted in a black sedan in North Portland. Surveillance footage from a Plaid Pantry showed him purchasing a drink with a child in the backseat, leading to a police search near the Bridal Veil exit off Interstate 84.

The search came to a dramatic end as Huizar shot himself in his car during a police chase. If he survives, he could face charges of first-degree murder constituting domestic violence, with additional charges possible in the future. The community remains on edge as the full scope of this tragic event continues to unfold.