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A woman armed with a gun and suspected of fatally shooting a man in central Phoenix on Monday was shot and killed by an officer a few hours later, police said. 

The woman in her 20s was shot at the Japanese Friendship Garden, 1125 N. Third Ave., in downtown Phoenix.

Officers had responded to a homicide scene in an apartment near Central and Minnezona avenues around 12:15 p.m., said Phoenix police Sgt. Vince Lewis. They found a middle-aged man with multiple gunshot wounds, he said.

He was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead, Lewis said.

Officers identified a female suspect who was seen leaving the scene in a dark blue Jaguar with an Arkansas license plate. Lewis said she knew the victim, but details of their relationship were not disclosed.

After the shooting, the woman visited a restaurant near Central Avenue and Portland Street for several hours, Lewis said. After she left the restaurant, police received a call about an armed woman that matched the suspect’s description, Lewis said.

An officer found the woman at the Japanese Friendship Garden and requested backup assistance, Lewis said.

After she was spotted, the goal was to “establish communication and begin negotiations” with her, he said.

“Several non-lethal, less-lethal tools and tactics were brought to the scene with the goal of continuing that contact with her,” Lewis said.

Lewis said the woman threatened to shoot herself with the handgun. 

During the exchange, an officer with 24 years of experience fired his weapon, “fearing for his safety,” and struck the woman, Lewis said.

Officers immediately began life-saving efforts, and she was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. 

It was not immediately clear whether any of the officers at the scene were wearing body cameras, but Lewis said officials were checking.

No officers were injured.

Additional information was not immediately available Monday night.

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