A man wielding a steak knife has killed four members of his extended family, including two children, at a home in the Queens borough of New York City before being shot dead by police, authorities say. The New York City Police Department said a girl called to report the incident in Queens' Far Rockaway neighbourhood and said "her cousin is killing her family members". The suspect, a 38-year-old, stabbed two police officers who responded to the scene, police told reporters. One of the officers then shot him dead, they added. The suspect had previously been arrested over a domestic violence incident, police said. The two injured officers were taken to a hospital and were expected to recover. The four people stabbed to death included a 12-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl, a 44-year-old woman and a man in his 30s, police said. The 11-year-old was found in front of the house while the other three were found inside bedrooms, police added. A fifth person, a 61-year-old woman, was also stabbed and was in hospital in critical condition, police said. The suspect set fire to a couch in the home's living room, forcing officers to wait for the arrival of the fire department before entering the home, police said. Australian Associated Press