A meat cleaver-wielding man was shot by police in New York City after officers said he stabbed four young girls inside a home on Sunday morning. 

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) said officers responded to a “heartbreaking” 911 call at a home in the Bensonhurt neighborhood in southern Brooklyn around 10:30 a.m. for reports of an assault in progress.

Police said one of the children, an 11-year-old, called 911 and said she and her siblings had been stabbed by her uncle, Jessica Tisch, NYPD commissioner, shared during the press conference. 

“The 11-year-old 911 caller, who herself was a victim, hid in a room to call the police and a young, uninjured boy ran in to alert a neighbor,” Tisch said. 

NYPD officers shot a man after they said he used a meat cleaver to slash four young girls inside a Brooklyn home on Sunday. (iStock)

The suspect was identified as Long Chen, 49, and officials said while his exact relationship to the victims is under investigation, he is believed to be a relative. Police said he was in critical condition.

Investigators believe the children’s mother was out of the home when the attack happened. 

Family members told authorities that Chen had a history of mental illness, but that there appeared to be no prior domestic violence incidents at the home. 

“Obviously, the motive behind this horrific attack is still under investigation, and we will provide more information when we have it,” John Chell, NYPD chief of department, said.

“We know there were five children, four hurt and a young man who so bravely went to the neighbors to alert the neighbors to call us, and also that 11-year-old who went to that room and made that call quite, quite heroic on their behalf.” 

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com