Law enforcement agencies in Washington and beyond are currently on a manhunt for a former police officer accused of killing his ex-wife and his underage girlfriend, and fleeing with his 1-year-old son, on the same day he was scheduled to appear in court for allegedly raping a teen girl.
Authorities are searching for 39-year-old Elias Huizar and an Amber Alert has been issued for his son, Roman.
According to the West Richland Police Department, Huizar shot and killed his ex-wife outside an elementary school where she worked at 3:23 p.m. Monday, around the time school lets out for the day. No students were injured. The school is located just north of the border of Washington and Oregon, about 200 miles southeast of Seattle.
When officers went to Huizar's home to investigate, they found a second victim, identified by reports as his 17-year-old girlfriend and the mother of his child. Her cause of death wasn't immediately released.
Investigators believe that Huizar abducted his son and is fleeing to Mexico, according to West Richland police. They say he is "armed and considered dangerous, and is likely to commit more crimes."
Police in Portland, Oregon reported that Huizar was seen in the city overnight, possibly driving a black sedan. As of Tuesday afternoon, he remains at large.
According to the Tri City Herald, which cited court documents, Huizar was arrested on Feb. 3 for allegedly sexually assaulting the friend of his 17-year-old girlfriend after a night of drinking at his house. His girlfriend allegedly caught Huizar assaulting the teen and then took her to get help from police. Huizar was released from custody after posting $200,000 bail. He was due in court Monday on charges of second-degree rape, third-degree child rape, and providing alcohol to minors, according to the report.
Huizar alleged relationship with the 17-year-old goes back several years, according to the Tri City Herald. He was working as a school resource officer at the girl's middle school in 2019 when he sought a protection order from the then-13-year-old after she told others they had a sexual relationship. An investigation was carried out and the case was "unfounded," according to the report. Still, Huizar was removed from the school and the girl was ordered to stay away from him for a year. Huizar reconnected with the girl in 2022 when she was 15, according to the Tri City Herald, and in 2023 she had a baby.
Detectives were reportedly investigating Huizar's relationship with his girlfriend and if she was of legal age when she became pregnant.