Oregon State Police superintendent on paid leave after firing during Amber Alert chase

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After an Amber Alert suspect led a high-speed chase on Interstate 5, two Oregon State Police troopers are on paid administrative leave for firing their weapons mid-pursuit – including the department’s top official.

Superintendent Casey Codding fired his gun Tuesday afternoon while tracking Elias Huizar, the man who led a multi-state search after police said he murdered two women in Washington and fled the state with his 1-year-old son.

The chase ended when Huizar shot himself in the head after his car crashed just north of Eugene, Ore. Prior to the crash, officials report that Codding and one other trooper shot at Huizar’s vehicle during the chase.

According to OSP, it is standard procedure to place a trooper on paid administrative leave after an officer-involved shooting.

“Obviously there is a unique circumstance with the Superintendent, but the timeline will be determined by the investigative process,” one spokesperson told KOIN 6 News.

Deputy Superintendent Josh Brooks will serve in Codding’s place until his return, though it’s unclear how long the administrative leave will last.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.