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Unrequited love led to a central Phoenix homicide Monday that later resulted in the suspect being fatally shot by an officer, Phoenix police said.

Todd Landon, 55, was shot multiple times in an apartment near Central and Minnezona avenues. His killer is believed to be a 27-year-old woman who was later fatally shot by police during a confrontation at the Japanese Friendship Garden.

The woman’s name had yet to be released as of Tuesday afternoon. 

“She had been attempting to establish a relationship with the victim, but this was not reciprocated,” Phoenix police Sgt Vince Lewis said.

Phoenix police say they responded to a medical call at an apartment about 12:15 p.m. Monday and found Landon with several gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital and declared dead.   

Police believe the shooting suspect left the scene and went to a cafe by Central Avenue and Portland Street, where she stayed for hours. An employee approached her about her bill as she tried to leave, and she pointed a gun at the employee before running to the park, police said.

The cafe worker called 911 to report the aggravated assault, and responding police found the woman sitting by herself in the Japanese Friendship Garden park at 1125 N. Third Ave. just before 6 p.m.

Police say she was threatening to harm herself and they were trying to de-escalate the situation.

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

Multiple officers attempted to communicate with the woman. However, she did not comply and continued to walk toward Margaret T. Hance Park, where officers believed citizens could be in harm’s way, Lewis said.

Afraid for the safety of the citizens and officers, an officer from the Special Assignment Unit opened fire at the same time as the woman, Lewis said.

Crews provided emergency aid to the woman, but she was pronounced dead at a hospital, Lewis said.

Lewis said an internal Police Department investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Landon was employed as a maintenance tech at the apartment complex the Lex on Central, according to their Facebook page. The complex declined to comment about the shooting. 

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