Deputies from the Merced Sheriff Department rescued a woman and three kids from a home in Dos Palos.

Officers responded at around 3:00 a.m. today to the 1300 block of Ida Street in Dos Palos for reports of a male subject inside a residence threatening to stab a female and her three children in the neck.

When deputies arrived,the female and kids were inside a bedroom and the suspect was pacing the hallway in front of the room with two kitchen knives, one in each hand, according to deputies.

The suspect threatened to stab the victim and her kids if deputies came into the residence. Deputies were able to speak with the victims and suspect through a locked window.

Deputies made several attempts to negotiate with the suspect, however, he ignored the deputies and their commands to drop the knife. Deputies made several attempts to get the suspect to let the children go but the suspect continued to ignore deputies.

After almost an hour of attempting to convince the suspect to let the victims go, the suspect rushed into the room and deputies shot the suspect through the bedroom window.

Deputies made entry into the residence and successfully extracted the victim and her kids from the residence. Deputies began CPR on the suspect however, he died at the scene after paramedics arrived.

The Merced County Sheriff’s Office Coroner Bureau is working on positively identifying the suspect and notifying next of kin.