A manhunt was underway on Tuesday for an ex-cop accused of killing two women, his ex-wife and girlfriend, in Washington state and then abducting a 1-year-old boy, police said.
Elias Huizar, a former Yakima police officer, is “armed and considered dangerous, and is likely to commit more crimes,” the West Richland Police Department said in a statement shared on Facebook. He was identified as a suspect in two homicides in West Richland, the first of which occurred at Wiley Elementary School Monday afternoon. He allegedly shot and killed a paraeducator just as students were being let out for the day around 3:20 p.m., the Tri-City Herald reported.
The school went into an immediate lockdown and the victim was pronounced dead on the scene.
Authorities investigating the deadly violence uncovered the body of another woman at Huizar’s home hours later.
While the names of the victims have not yet been released, they were identified as the suspect’s ex-wife and girlfriend in an Amber Alert issued for 1-year-old Roman Huizar. Police did not provide the boy’s exact relationship with Huizar, but local outlets identified Roman as his son.
Authorities believe 39-year-old Huziar absconded with the toddler in a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla with Washington plates CBZ474, and that he could be making a break for the Mexico border.
Police said the boy has brown hair and brown eyes. He is around two feet tall and weighs approximately 25 lbs. He has not been seen since Sunday around 5 p.m., according to the Amber Alert.
In February, Huizar was arrested for raping a teen girl at his home in West Richland. According to court documents obtained by the Tri-City Herald, Huizar sexually assaulted the unconscious teenager after they spent the night drinking with his 17-year-old girlfriend, who is also the mother of 1-year-old Roman.
The two teens then left in Huizar’s truck and continued driving until they found a Benton County sheriff’s deputy parked in Benton City. They also took Roman, just 9 months old at the time, police said.
When authorities responded to Huizar’s residence, he refused to let them inside, prompting them to force entry. He was arrested on rape charges, but he posted $200,000 bail later the same evening.
Police said they are also investigating whether Huizar’s girlfriend was of a legal age when they started dating. It’s not clear if she was the victim found at his home on Monday.
Authorities have asked that anyone who sees Huizar immediately call 911. He’s described as as being 5-foot-6, 170 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
