Prosecutor: Shooting of Amber Alert suspect on I-5 justified

PORTLAND, Oregon (COIN) – Two Oregon State Police troopers were found “justified” in shooting an Amber Alert and wanted murder suspect during a chase on Interstate 5 in April, according to the Linn County District Attorney’s Office.

After reviewing the shooting, District Attorney Doug Marteeny determined that officers shot 39-year-old Elias Huizar in self-defense, as first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

In a June 6 memo obtained by KOIN 6 News, Marteeny wrote to the lead investigator on the case that the use of deadly force by Superintendent Casey Codding and Sergeant Nickodemus Johnson was legally justified, noting, “The evidence leading to this conclusion is overwhelming. Sgt. Johnson and Supt. Codding shot Elias Huizar in self-defense and in defense of others.”

Huizar was accused of murdering his ex-wife and the teenage mother of his child before driving from Washington to Oregon with his one-year-old son – This prompted authorities to issue an Amber Alert on April 22.

Huizar, a former police officer from Yakima, Washington, was reported as armed and dangerous, District Attorney Marteeny said.

On April 23, at around 2:30 p.m., authorities spotted Huizar in a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla on Interstate 5 and initiated a traffic stop. However, Huizar sped away – reaching speeds of around 100 miles per hour, according to the memo.

The memo notes at least two attempts by Sergeant Johnson and Trooper Scott Show, beginning north of Exit 209, to use their vehicles to divert Huizar’s vehicle, causing him to end up on the shoulder of the road.

Huizar attempted to get back on the road and “while driving past Sergeant Johnson’s vehicle, Huizar pointed a handgun out the open driver’s window” and fired at Johnson’s vehicle, officials said.

According to the memo, Johnson and Codding “immediately drew their pistols and fired several shots at Huizar.” They noted that they were trying to ensure the safety of a child who might have been in the car with Huizar, adding, “It was an extremely dynamic event.”

The prosecutor’s memo said the bullets fired by authorities hit Huizar’s car, but not Huizar himself.

Huizar continued driving until he got caught in a traffic jam near Eugene caused by another accident. He had to drive on the dirt shoulder to avoid traffic and eventually crashed into the back of a stationary semi-truck, the memo said.

The prosecutor stated that Huizar then shot himself as officers got out of their vehicles and approached his car. His son was found unharmed.