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Authorities identify suspect killed in police shooting near Washington High School in Phoenix

The shooting happened Wednesday afternoon near 23rd and Glendale avenues.

PHOENIX — Phoenix police have identified the man killed in a shooting involving Phoenix police near 23rd and Glendale avenues Wednesday afternoon.

Phoenix police said a detective was in the area investigating a domestic violence aggravated assault from earlier this month. 

During the investigation, police said the detective saw the suspect, later identified as 41-year-old Derin Holmes, as he drove past the victim's residence multiple times. 

Two officers spotted Holmes jump a fence into a nearby parking lot. Police said officers tried to contact Holmes when he fired a shot from a handgun, and one officer shot his firearm.

Phoenix police said officers provided aid to Holmes until firefighters arrived and pronounced him deceased.

The shooting took place across the street from Washington High School. 

Freshmen Skianna Reese and Christopher Rayas were at an after-school class when the shooting broke out.

"The teacher told us to sit down, and she grabbed the people from outside and made them sit down too. Then she closed the door and locked it," said Reese.

"Soon enough, the announcement went off that we were going on a lockdown. Please stay inside your classes," added Rayas.

Student Marcos Hernandez said he witnessed the shooting.

“The officer was telling the guy to get down or something, and then that’s when was the officer-involved shooting. I was a bit like, what just happened? I was in shock a little bit," said Hernandez.

Phoenix police said a firearm was located near Holmes, and the officers were wearing body-worn cameras.

This is the third shooting involving Valley law enforcement this week. 

A second deadly officer-involved shooting occurred Wednesday evening near 27th Avenue and Van Buren Street in west Phoenix. 

On Tuesday, a suspect was killed, and an officer was injured after a shooting in Avondale.

 This is a developing story. Stay with 12News for updates.

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