In a devastating turn of events, the West Richland Police Department confirmed at a news conference on Wednesday that the second body found at the residence of former Washington state school resource officer Elias Huizar was identified as his 17-year-old girlfriend, Angelica Santos. Santos was also the mother of Huizar's 1-year-old son, whom he was accused of kidnapping.

The grim discovery came after Huizar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Tuesday, following a vehicle chase with Oregon police. Police Chief Thomas Grego revealed that Santos had also been a victim of child rape in the third degree. However, the exact cause of Santos' death is still undetermined pending an autopsy.

Benton County Prosecutor Eric Eisinger expressed uncertainty regarding the motive for Santos' tragic homicide. Nevertheless, he disclosed that a protection order had been filed on behalf of Santos against Huizar. Records show that Huizar had been charged with second-degree rape in February, unrelated to the charges involving Santos. He had been released on a $200,000 bond.

It was also revealed that Huizar had been an employee of the city of Yakima until February 2022, although the reasons for his departure were not specified. Posts from the Yakima Police Department's Facebook page indicated that Huizar joined the department in December 2014 and served as a school resource officer starting in 2018.

Earlier this week, Huizar was accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife, Amber Rodriguez, outside of William Wiley Elementary School in West Richland. The tragic incident further intensified an already horrific situation.

Following the pursuit of Huizar's vehicle, the head of Oregon State Police, Superintendent Casey Codding, along with two other officers involved, have been placed on leave. Captain Kyle Kennedy of Oregon State Police confirmed that it is unclear how long Codding's leave will last, pending the investigative process.

The pursuit began after Oregon State Police officers spotted Huizar's vehicle on Interstate 5 near Eugene, Oregon. During the chase, a minor collision occurred, followed by an exchange of gunfire, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Huizar's vehicle eventually crashed, leaving him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The one-year-old boy, Roman Santos, who had been the subject of an earlier Amber Alert issued by Washington state authorities, was found unharmed in the vehicle. Police safely removed him from the scene and placed him in the care of Oregon authorities.

As authorities continue to investigate the shocking events that unfolded, the community grapples with the tragic loss of young lives and the unanswered questions that surround them.