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Posted: 2024-04-25T19:48:10Z | Updated: 2024-04-25T19:48:10Z

A 1-year-old Washington toddler was found safe in Oregon on Tuesday after authorities alleged he was kidnapped by his father, a former police officer who took his own life in a police chase following the fatal shooting of his ex-wife and the discovery of a deceased teenage girl in his home, West Richland officials announced on Wednesday.

Elias Huizar, 39, was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound following an intense police chase near Eugene, Oregon, according to a press release by West Richland police on Tuesday . His 1-year-old son, Roman Santos, was with him during the chase, but was safely taken into custody.

The search for Roman began on Monday, after Huizar allegedly gunned down his ex-wife, 31-year-old Amber Marie Rodriguez, outside William Wiley Elementary before fleeing the scene with the child, West Richland Police Chief Thomas Grego said Tuesday at a press conference .

Huizar came onto school grounds dressed in black clothes and shot his ex-wife several times in front of one of the two children they had together, according to a probable cause document cited by local NBC affiliate KNDU .

Authorities searched Huizars home a block away from the shooting, where they found the body of Romans mother, 17-year-old Angelica Santos.

On Wednesday, Grego referred to the teenager as Huizars girlfriend. The police chief also told reporters that Santos death is still under investigation.

Benton County prosecutor Eric Eisinger said at the press conference that it was unclear if Santos was living with Huizar at the time of her death, adding that the motives behind both killings are unclear.