Police in Washington state are urgently searching for a former officer suspected in the killings of his ex-wife and a girlfriend and the kidnapping of a 1-year-old boy, authorities said.
The former officer, Elias Huizar, is “armed and considered dangerous, and is likely to commit more crimes,” the West Richland Police Department said.
He was due to appear in court Monday on charges of child rape, according to NBC affiliate KNDU of the Tri-Cities area.
Police initially identified him as a person of interest after a woman was fatally shot at the end of the school day at Wiley Elementary School in West Richland.
Officers were called at 3:23 p.m. Monday and found “one adult female was pronounced deceased at the scene outside of the school,” police said in a statement. The victim was not identified.
The shooter fled the scene and the school was placed on lockdown, police said. No one else was injured in the shooting, the department added, noting that it was thought to be an isolated incident.
Later Monday, police said the body of a second woman was found at Huizar’s home after they obtained a search warrant. No information was given about the woman except that she was “a known associate of the suspect.”
Washington State Patrol issued an Amber Alert for Roman Huizar, described as 2 feet tall and 25 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Though Huizar and the missing child share the same last name, the relationship between them was not immediately clear Tuesday.
The alert also said the women killed were Huizar's ex-wife and girlfriend.
Huizar is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and 170 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes and was driving a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla with Washington plates CBZ4745, according to the alert.
However, Portland police told West Richland authorities that Huizar was seen in the Oregon city overnight, possibly driving a black sedan.
"All resources are following up on this lead," West Richland police said.
He previously appeared in court Feb. 15, where a lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Court documents seen by KNDU said that Huizar is alleged to have sexually assaulted a teenager while she was sleeping in his home in February this year. This was witnessed and reported by another teenager, the documents say.
No-contact orders were issued for the alleged victims in the case, who were described as teenagers, meaning Huizar can’t go within 1,000 feet of their schools, homes or workplaces, or have any contact with minors under 16.
During the February hearing, prosecuting attorney Anita Petra said that the order would ban contact between Huizar and his own child.
The Yakima Police Department said Huizar was an officer there from 2013 to 2022.
"He did serve as a school resource officer for a period of time, at a couple schools during his employment. Mr. Huizar resigned in February of 2022, immediately following discipline," a department spokesperson said.
Details on the punishment and what led to disciplinary action were not released.
The West Richland Police Department will hold a news conference regarding the latest developments in the search for Huizar at 2 p.m. local time.
