Four people, including two children, have been killed and three others injured following a stabbing in Queens, New York.<\/p>\n
Police called to the Far Rockaway neighbourhood in the early hours of Sunday found the victims in a home that had been set on fire.<\/p>\n
The male suspect stabbed two police officers before being shot by one of the injured officers.<\/p>\n
The suspect was taken to hospital but declared dead on arrival.<\/p>\n
In a press briefing at Jamaica Hospital, police confirmed that they received a 911 call at 5.10am local time, when a “young female caller stated that her cousin is killing her family members”.<\/p>\n
Two officers were sent to the address on Beach 22nd Street where they saw a male walking out with luggage.<\/p>\n
When the officers tried to talk to the male he pulled a knife out, stabbing one officer in the neck and chest area, and a second officer in the head.<\/p>\n
One of the officers was able to take out his firearm and shot the suspect.<\/p>\n
When more officers were dispatched to the scene, they found an 11-year-old girl at the front of the house. She was taken to hospital but later died of her injuries.<\/p>\n
After the New York Fire Department arrived at the scene, emergency services found the bodies of three other people inside the house: a 12-year-old boy, a 44-year-old female, and a male in his 30s.<\/p>\n
A 61-year-old female was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with multiple stab wounds.<\/p>\n
Police believe all victims died as a result of stab wounds and a kitchen steak knife was recovered from the scene.<\/p>\n
New York police named the suspect as 39-year-old Courtney Gordon, who had one prior arrest for domestic violence in the Bronx.<\/p>\n
He was visiting his family members in Queens at the time of the attack.<\/p>\n
Police said that the investigation was ongoing, but that the person who made the 911 call was being interviewed at the police station.<\/p>\n