Kennewick, Washington – A manhunt is underway in Washington State for a former school police officer accused of a double homicide and rape. Elias Huizar, 39, is wanted by authorities after allegedly killing his ex-wife and underage girlfriend on the same day he was due in court for rape charges involving two 16-year-old girls. As the search intensifies, Washington State Police have issued alerts warning the public that Huizar is armed, dangerous, and likely to commit further crimes.
The shocking series of events began on Monday afternoon when gunfire erupted at William Wiley Elementary School. Huizar is accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife, Amber Rodriguez, who worked at the school as a paraeducator. Immediately after, police discovered the lifeless body of an underage girl at Huizar’s nearby residence, believed to be his girlfriend. While it is unclear if she is the mother of Huizar’s missing one-year-old son, authorities have expressed concern for the child’s safety.
Further investigation revealed that Huizar was scheduled to appear in court on the same day for rape charges involving two 16-year-old girls. Court documents indicate that he had been accused of both raping his girlfriend, who was 15 at the time she became pregnant, and sexually assaulting one of her teenage friends. Huizar, who served as a school cop at Washington Middle School in Yakima, had recently divorced Rodriguez and faced a protection order due to harassment and his possession of firearms.
Authorities have raised concerns that Huizar may be attempting to flee the country, possibly heading towards Mexico. An AMBER Alert has been issued in the hopes of safely locating his missing one-year-old son, Roman. Huizar was initially given a bail of $200,000 but has since been released under strict conditions that prohibit contact with underage girls and alcohol consumption.
Law enforcement agencies are urging the public to provide any information that could lead to the capture of Huizar, emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of the community. The ongoing manhunt has left the community in shock, leaving many grappling with the heinous crimes committed and the efforts to bring the fugitive former school police officer to justice.