The 29-year-old woman fatally shot by police at her Beaverton home was funny, outgoing and giving, friends and family said Friday, but she also apparently suffered from bipolar disorder and had suicidal thoughts throughout her life.

Beaverton police say two officers fired on Chelsea Fresh after she came out of her house armed with a rifle and pointed it at them late Thursday afternoon.

"There's something missing," said Kenny Fitch, who was friends with Fresh. "If that was the way it really happened, what was the underlying issue? What was behind it? What caused it?"

On her Facebook page, Fresh had posted a photo titled, "A Bipolar Mind." The photo, in part, reads: "Yes, I have Bipolar Disorder. Yes, I make poor choices when I am manic and I don't think about the consequences.

"When I finally return to reality, I understand I need to take responsibility to clean up my own messes. I do the best I can and sometimes, it's just not good enough."

Fresh's Facebook page has since been taken down from public view.

Fitch, 32, said the friend he knew was caring and a good mother to her three children. He and Fresh grew up together in Forest Grove, he said.

"She's a really true, kind-hearted friend," he said. "Someone that you love to have around."

Fitch, who lives in Hillsboro, said he talked to Fresh every now and then, but they hadn't recently spent time together. He last spoke to her through Facebook last week.

Her cousin, Brook Royland, said Fresh had always struggled with suicidal thoughts. The two hadn't spoken in years, but Royland said she knows her cousin will be missed and was loved.

"She was a good mom and was just going through a lot," she said.

On Thursday afternoon, Fresh's boyfriend had called police to say she was suicidal and had knives and rifles inside their home in the 12000 block of Southwest Conestoga Drive, said Officer Mike Rowe, police spokesman. He told officers that Fresh had pushed him and moved toward knives in the kitchen, so he left the home to call police.

Officers responded just after 3:50 p.m. to check on the woman. A Beaverton police negotiator had reached her on the phone, Rowe said.

The woman came out of her house several times with a rifle in her hand, the last time pointing the gun at police, Rowe said. Officers then shot her.

State medical examiner Dr. Karen Gunson determined Fresh died of gunshot wounds to her chest.

Before the shooting, Fresh's boyfriend had told police that there was no ammunition in the house for either of the two rifles. Fresh stated otherwise to the negotiator, Rowe said. Police have not said whether her rifle was loaded.

"It's very simple," Rowe said. "No one who has a weapon pointed at them has the ability or the luxury to wait and see whether that weapon is loaded or not."

Police have not identified the officers who shot Fresh. They have not said how many shots were fired or the number of times Fresh was struck. They also have not said whether any less-lethal force was used.

Residents reported hearing three to six gunshots. During the standoff, neighbors weren't evacuated from their homes, but Southridge High School and the Conestoga Recreation & Aquatic Center were placed in lockdown for a short time as a precaution.

"From the time we got the call to when shots were fired was about an hour," Rowe said. "It was a very short amount of time."

Rowe declined to say where the officers were positioned when the shooting occurred. He also would not comment on specifics of what the crisis negotiator said to Fresh. He said they were fortunate to have a negotiator at the scene from the start of the call.

"We can only help as much as someone wants help," he said.

Rowe said he believes Fresh was the only person inside the home at the time of the shooting.

On Friday morning, the storm door to the home was shattered, with shards of glass scattered on a doormat and in a flowerbed. At least two apparent bullet holes were visible on the siding of the tan home. A stroller sat folded up against the front door and a small toy car sat near some bushes and the glass.

Four people arrived at the house and left three white candles in front by the garage. Two women in the group sobbed as they left poster-sized signs that said "We love you."

The four hung three balloons, two silver stars and one red heart from the garage. They said they were angry at the police and that Fresh had no ammunition.

A bright green sign appeared to be written by Fresh's twin sister and was hung behind the storm door. A sad face with tears was drawn on the poster board.

"Twin sister 'Twister' you will forever be in my thoughts I have our memories with me forever no one can take that from us!" the sign read. "May you rest with the Angels. RIP Sissy."

-- Rebecca Woolington