All lanes of southbound Interstate 5 at mileposts 209 and 196 in Eugene were closed Tuesday due to law enforcement activity, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Oregon State Police said law enforcement received reports of a suspect speeding on southbound Interstate 5 around 2:53 p.m., according to a report from KEZI. The man reportedly crashed near Milepost 197. Police said shots were fired during the chase.
KEZI reports that the driver, 40-year-old former Yakima, Washington police officer Elias Huizar, shot himself in the head at the end of the chase.
Oregon State Police told KEZI a child was in the vehicle and is now safe in custody.
I-5 was severely backed up in both directions due to the police response. Traffic was being diverted through Harrisburg.
An Amber Alert was issued Tuesday evening from Washington, where authorities said a man killed his ex-wife and girlfriend and kidnapped his 1-year-old son.
At the time, the Washington State Patrol said the man was armed, dangerous and “on the run” and was likely heading south toward Oregon. They identified Elias Huizar, 40, as the suspect.
The Washington State Patrol issued the alert on behalf of the West Richland Police Department, which reported the baby, identified as Roman Huizar, missing.
According to law enforcement reports, Huizar killed a woman outside William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland, Washington, on Monday, then fled the scene before officers arrived.
While later serving a search warrant at Huizar’s home, West Richland police reported, detectives and partner agencies discovered the body of a second woman at his residence.
Police have not released additional details about the women’s deaths, including how they were killed.
USA TODAY contributed to this story.
Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You can reach her at [email protected].
This article was originally published on Register-Guard: Suspect dead, child in custody following Oregon standoff
