WEST RICHLAND, Wash. (NewsNation) — The manhunt for a former Washington state police officer accused of killing two and kidnapping a 1-year-old baby ended Tuesday after the suspect was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Oregon State Police said.

The 1-year-old was unharmed and taken safely into state custody by Oregon troopers, according to police.

High-speed chase in Oregon

Oregon troopers pursued Elias Huizar, 39, when they saw him driving southbound on Interstate 5 near Eugene, Oregon, at about 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Oregon State Police Capt. Kyle Kennedy said at a media briefing Tuesday evening that Huizar fled after a trooper tried to pull over his vehicle.

A high-speed chase ensued and gunfire was exchanged at one point during the pursuit, Kennedy said. After about 25 miles, the chase ended after Huizar crashed into a commercial vehicle that was stopped on the side of the interstate due to an unrelated crash.

Huizar’s vehicle spun and became immobile in the median, and when troopers tried to make contact with him, he shot himself and died at the scene, Kennedy said. The 1-year-old was uninjured and removed from the car, Kennedy said.

“All day our thoughts have been how to rescue this young boy and we’re thankful for the outcome that occurred,” Kennedy said.

West Richland killings

Police said Huizar fled William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland Monday afternoon with his 1-year-old son after killing his ex-wife, Amber Rodriguez, 31, and his girlfriend, who has yet to be identified.

The 39-year-old shot Rodriguez eight times outside the elementary school in front of their 9-year-old son and other witnesses, police said. Rodriguez had recently obtained a protection order against Huizar after discovering he had been charged with raping two teenage girls.

Rodriguez worked at the school, while Huizar had recently worked as a substitute teacher in the Richland School District, the district confirmed Tuesday.

An Amber Alert was issued Monday evening for the 1-year-old baby described as 2-foot-6 and 25 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

The other victim’s body was found at Huizar’s residence when authorities executed a search warrant Monday, police said.

Elias Huizar on bail pending rape trial

According to court records, Huizar had at least until early this year been living with a 17-year-old girl whom he met when she was 11 and he was a middle school resource officer in Yakima. He impregnated her when she was 15; their baby recently turned 1, Rodriguez wrote in seeking a protection order against Huizar.

The Yakima Police Department said Tuesday that Huizar left the department in 2021 “after receiving discipline.” It did not provide any other information.

In February, the 17-year-old girl reported to police that Huizar sexually assaulted a 16-year-old friend who had passed out at their house. Huizar was charged with the rape of both the teen and her friend. He was out on bail pending trial, authorities said.

Rodriguez wrote in her petition for a protection order that her divorce from Huizar became final last year and that she had not been aware that he was having a relationship with the same teen he had met as a resource officer until he was charged with rape.

Ex-wife feared for children’s safety

Rodriguez said she feared for the safety of her children and that she would be seeking a modification of their parenting plan. She filed for the modification last Friday, court records show. The protection order was issued in February and was to remain in effect for a year; under it, Huizar was barred from possessing firearms.

The Richland School District said it terminated Huizar’s employment following his arrest in February. It said it had received recommendations from the Yakima School District before hiring him in 2022, and that he had passed background checks.

“We are extremely disheartened that information about Mr. Huizar’s past was not disclosed to us through the various processes we have in place to vet RSD candidates for employment,” the district said. “It is the expectation for individuals who apply for employment with RSD to be forthcoming and truthful in their applications.”