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POLICE are searching for a former cop accused of killing his ex-wife and girlfriend before abducting his one-year-old son.
Elias Huizar, 39, allegedly took his son Roman, 1, on the run after police say he shot and killed his ex-wife Amber Rodriguez, 31, at the school she worked at in West Richland, Washington, on Monday.
After the shooting, cops served a search warrant at Huizar’s home and found another victim dead, who police haven’t named as the investigation remains ongoing.
However, Washington State Patrol identified the second victim as the suspect’s girlfriend on their state-wide Amber Alert for the former Yakima officer.
The alert has since been extended to Oregon after Huizar was seen driving in Portland as investigators believe he’s fleeing to Mexico with Roman in a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla with license plate CBZ4745.
Anyone who sees the car or Huizar, who is described as 5-foot-6 and weighing 170 pounds, is asked to call 911.
Read our Elias Huizar search blog for the latest updates…
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Police are ‘concerned’
A reporter asked police at the press conference if they were worried about the suspect’s actions considering his police background.
“Obviously we are concerned based on the recent events,” a police spokesperson said.
“As a result, we are making every effort to [apprehend him] as soon as possible.”
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School staff acted ‘very quickly’
A spokesperson for the Richland School District said that there will be a timeline of the shooting made available.
“It was definitely targeted,” the spokesperson said.
“Staff acted very quickly and got everybody back inside.”
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Victim named
Amber Rodriguez, 31, has been confirmed as Elias Huizar’s ex-wife who he killed Monday.
No information about the second victim’s identity is being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation.
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Press conference airs now
West Richland Police Department is now holding a press conference to update the public on the manhunt for Elias Huizar.
Tune in for the latest updates on the briefing.
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Richland School District shares statement
Richland School District shared a statement about the connection between suspect Elias Huizar and the district.
“There are no words to express how deeply saddened we are by the targeted, domestic violence incidents that took place yesterday at William Wiley Elementary and in the surrounding neighborhood that resulted in the death of one of our staff members and another individual,” the district said.
“This is a tragedy no community should have to experience.”
The RSD went on to say that the suspect applied for a substitute position with the district in 2021 and worked as a sub throughout the 2022 and 2023 school years.
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GoFundMe for suspect’s ex-wife
A GoFundMe has been established for the family of Elias Huizer’s ex-wife Amber Rodriguez after the suspect allegedly shot and killed her outside of William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland on Monday.
“Let’s support the family during this horrific time,” the page reads in part.
“Funds will be used for the immediate and long term needs of the children, as well as to lay Amber to rest.”
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What to know about Amber Alerts
The Amber Alert for Elias Huizer, who’s believed to have taken his 1-year-old son, Roman, is active in Washington and Oregon.
Local authorities issue Amber Alerts when investigators believe:
- An abduction of a child under the age of 18 has transpired
- The child is in danger of serious bodily harm and or death, either due to the actions of another or due to a proven mental or physical condition
- The missing child reports meet the Reasonable Cause to Believe criteria via eyewitness accounts and by elimination of other possibilities
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Suspect ‘faces two child rape charges,’ part three
Elias Huizar was arrested in February after his underage girlfriend, 17, allegedly caught him assaulting her unconscious friend, 16, according to the Tri-City Herald.
The teens took Huizar’s car to report the assault to police. The girlfriend brought along her baby, who was nine months old at the time.
The outlet reports that police are also investigating if the girlfriend was of legal age when she became pregnant with Roman.
After Huizar was released on bail, he was ordered to surrender his passport, refrain from drinking alcohol, and to stay away from the two teen girls.
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Suspect ‘faces two child rape charges,’ part two
Elias Huizar, 39, was arrested on February 3 and accused of raping a teen girl at his home in West Richland, according to Tri-City Herald.
Huizar’s underage girlfriend, 17, called the cops on the suspect for allegedly raping her unconscious friend, 16, after the group had been drinking at his house.
Following his arrest, Huizar posted $200,000 bail that night and was released from the Benton County jail.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
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Suspect ‘faces two child rape charges,’ part one
Elias Huizar’s alleged second murder victim is reportedly his underage girlfriend, who was the mother of one-year-old Roman.
Huizar was due in court on Monday for two child rape charges, one of which was connected to his relationship with the teen girl, according to the Tri-City Herald.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).
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Classes canceled at local elementary school
Cops reported that Elias Huizar allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife Amber Rodriguez outside of William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland on Monday.
Classes at Wiley Elementary have been canceled today.
Credit: williamwiley.rsd.edu -
Press conference expected this afternoon
The West Richland Police Department will hold a press conference regarding the manhunt for Elias Huizar.
The briefing will happen at 2 pm local time.
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Amber Alert extended
Police have extended the Amber Alert from Washington to Oregon in the search for suspect Elias Huizar.
Portland police told West Richland police that the suspect was seen overnight in Portland.
Investigators believe Huizar is heading to Mexico.
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About suspect’s ex-wife Amber Rodriguez
Elias Huizar allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife Amber Rodriguez outside of William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland.
Amber, who was a paraeducator at the school, was the mother of two sons, ages 6 and 9, with Huizar.
The Seattle Times reports that, according to court documents, Amber filed for a change in custody for their sons on Friday.
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Suspect was a Yakima cop
Elias Huizar was a police officer and school resource officer in Yakima, Washington.
The suspect served with the Yakima Police Department between 2014 and 2022.
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Ex-cop ‘killed his ex-wife and girlfriend’
Police say Elias Huizar is a suspect for the murders of his ex-wife and girlfriend.
He was first identified as a suspect in a shooting on Monday afternoon outside William Wiley Elementary School at around 3:20 pm local time.
Huizar’s ex-wife was a paraeducator at the school.
As police served a search warrant at Huizar’s home in West Richland, they found another person dead.
Washington State Patrol identified the second victim as Huizar’s girlfriend in their alert.
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Suspect is ‘armed and dangerous’
Investigators believe that Elias Huizar is armed and dangerous.
Police shared in an update that they believe that the suspect is “likely to commit more crimes.”
Anyone who sees the vehicle or the suspect is asked call 911 and refer to the West Richland homicide case.
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Last seen in Portland
West Richland Police Department shared an update in the search For Elias Huizar to Facebook on Tuesday morning.
WRPD reported that Huizar was seen overnight in Portland, Oregon.
The suspect was “possibly driving a black sedan.”
“All resources are following up on this lead,” police said.
“We will release additional information as it is confirmed.”
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Contact police with any information
Any information about Elias Huizar’s whereabouts is asked to call 911.
You can also contact the Oregon AMBER Alert Tip Line at 1 8 6 6 5 AMBER 5 1 8 6 6 5 2 6 2 3 7 5.
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Elias Huizar pictured
The suspect in Roman Huizar’s abduction is his dad, 39-year-old Elias Huizar.
Huizar is described as 5-foot-6-inches with a medium build.
The ex-cop has brown hair and was last seen wearing a black hat, black long sleeved shirt, light blue jeans, and black shoes.
Police are searching for suspect Elias HuizarCredit: Washington State Patrol -
Boy was taken Sunday night
The Amber Alert issued for Roman Huizar says that the boy was taken from Richland, Washington, on Sunday around 5 pm ET.
It’s unknown what Roman was last seen wearing.
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Roman Huizar pictured
Roman Huizar, 1, has brown hair and brown eyes.
The boy weighs 25 pounds and is about 2 feet tall.
Elias was taken Sunday nightCredit: Washington State Patrol -
Police search for vehicle
Police are searching for a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla, with license plate CBZ4745.
Anyone who sees the car is asked to call 911.
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Suspect might be fleeing to Mexico
Washington State Patrol issued an Amber Alert for Elias Huizar as investigators believe he’s fleeing to Mexico.
Huizar was previously a cop and school resource officer in Yakima, Washington.
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Search begins for Elias Huizar
An Amber Alert has been issued for Elias Huizar, 39, who allegedly took his son Roman, 1, on the run.
Police have named him as the suspect in the deadly shooting of his ex-wife and girlfriend in West Richland, Washington, on Monday.
