West Richland police identified Huizar as being the suspect in the shooting outside William Wiley Elementary School about 3:20 p.m. Monday as students were being released for the day. His ex-wife was a paraeducator at the school.

Authorities in Oregon reported that a former police officer from Washington state, who was sought for the murders of two individuals including his ex-wife, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a high-speed chase. The officer, Elias Huizar, was accompanied by his 1-year-old child who was subsequently rescued unharmed by Oregon State Police troopers.

Washington state authorities are on hunt for Elias Huizar, who is accused of killing his ex-wife and minor girlfriend, as well as abducting his 1-year-old son. (Yakima Police Department)

The chase initiated when troopers spotted Huizar driving on Interstate 5 near Eugene, Oregon. Despite attempts to stop him, Huizar fled, leading to a pursuit that spanned approximately 25 miles and involved an exchange of gunfire. The chase concluded when Huizar’s vehicle collided with a stationary commercial vehicle and became disabled. Upon approaching the vehicle, troopers found Huizar deceased and safely extracted the child.

Captain Kyle Kennedy of the Oregon State Police, in a press briefing, stated that Huizar had initiated the violent sequence by killing his ex-wife, Amber Rodriguez, and another individual. Rodriguez had been shot multiple times in front of their older child and other witnesses outside a school in West Richland, prompting her to recently seek a protective order against Huizar, who had also been involved in other serious criminal activities.