Who is Elias Huizar? Amber Alert suspect was a substitute teacher, former police officer
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Phones pinged across the Pacific Northwest late Monday night for an Amber Alert involving a 1-year-old boy – the son of a man accused of two murders earlier that day.
Photos of the suspect, Elias Huizar, quickly flooded social media as police and community members pooled resources to find the missing child.
On Tuesday afternoon, officials announced Huizar shot himself as a police chase ended on Interstate 5 north of Eugene, Ore. His current condition is unclear, but officials report that his son is safe in police custody.
Huizar was considered at large after fleeing the scene of a shooting at William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland, Wash. on Monday afternoon where police allege he shot and killed his ex-wife, Amber Marie Rodriguez.
The shooting took place as classes were dismissed for the day. According to the district’s superintendent Dr. Shelley Redinger, Huizar had been in a "portable area" and shot Rodriguez outside.
Police said another woman was discovered dead in a nearby home hours later.
In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, authorities revealed Huizar had been working as a substitute teacher for the district prior to the shooting. The district said he was previously employed as a school resource officer at a neighboring school district and noted “there were no red flags when he was hired.”
Huizar’s most recent day of substitution for the district was June 14, 2023.
However, Huizar was removed from his position on Feb. 14, 2024 after the district received a notice of his arrest that included allegations of second-degree and third-degree rape. The total bail for these previous charges was set to $250,000.
“We are extremely disheartened that information about his past was not disclosed to us through the various processes we have to vet RSD candidates for employment,” Dr. Redinger said. “No past investigations or allegations appeared in Mr. Huizar’s background checks.”
According to court docs obtained by KOIN 6 News, Huizar was accused of impregnating a 15-year-old girl in 2022. The teenager told court officials she met Huizar while he worked at her middle school and the pair had reconnected over Facebook years later, which led to her visiting his West Richland home more than once.
While working at the middle school, Huizar was also employed by the Yakima Police Department between June 2013 and February 2022. The circumstances surrounding his retirement are unclear.
An Amber Alert sent Monday evening first stated Huizar could be driving a silver Toyota Corolla. However, West Richland police reported that Huizar was last seen driving a black sedan.
Huizar may have been spotted at a North Portland Plaid Pantry just after midnight, according to the company’s CEO Jonathan Polonsky. The security footage was turned over to Portland police, who also confirmed a store clerk had called 911 to report seeing Huizar purchase a drink with a child in the backseat of his car.
Tuesday morning, a vehicle matching the description of the one Huizar may be driving was reported near the Bridal Veil exit off Interstate 84, but a police search did not find the car.
Authorities announced Huizar had shot himself in his car around 3:30 p.m. as a police chase came to a close. If alive, he could face a charge of first-degree murder constituting domestic violence – though future charges may be added.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.