Man kills woman, two children, injures cop in Christmas rampage

A woman and two children were killed before a police officer was injured during a six-hour standoff with a gunman who barricaded himself inside an apartment on Christmas Day.

A woman was shot dead outside an apartment in Phoenix, Ariz., at 3:45 p.m. in what appears to be a domestic violence incident, according to Sgt. Jonathan Howard.

The man then barricaded himself inside the apartment with a 10-month-old baby and an 11-year-old child while authorities tried to negotiate with him.

When police realized the children were dead, the gunman started shooting at the cops outside 1601 E. Highland Street, The Arizona Republic reported.

A police officer who was injured in the resulting shootout was transported to the hospital in stable condition, Howard said.

The gunman, who did not appear to be injured, was taken into custody around 10 p.m. local time, according to police.

Kristen Alexander, who was escorted back to her apartment in the Highland Apartment complex after spending more than five hours outside in a parking lot, told the Republic, “I’m terrified of who our neighbors are.”