A knife-wielding man stabbed to death four members of his extended family at a home in Queens, New York, before police shot him dead.

Among those killed in the Sunday, December 4 morning incident include two children – a 12-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old girl. Others who were stabbed are a 44-year-old woman and a man in his 30s.

The New York City Police Department says a girl called to report the incident, saying that her cousin “is killing her family members”.

The police say that the 38-year-old suspect went on to stab two police officers who responded to the girl’s call, prompting one of them to shoot him dead.

The slain 11-year-old was found in front of the house, while the other three were found inside bedrooms.

A fifth person who was also stabbed, a 61-year-old woman, is in critical condition receiving treatent.

The injured police officers were also taken to hospital, treated and discharged amid cheers from their colleagues.

Serial offender

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspect has previously been arrested over domestic violence.

It is reported that the suspect torched a couch in the home’s living room, something that made police officers wait for the arrival of the fire department.