A suicidal Joliet man threatened to kill his wife and three children before taking his own life, but his plan was foiled when one of the kids escaped and called the cops, police said.

Armando Esqueda, 33, of 1018 Elgin Ave. was taken into custody after officers found him hiding in the bedroom of his wife's First Avenue house about 6:30 a.m. Sunday.

Esqueda was arrested and jailed on charges of home invasion, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, unlawful restraint, possession of a firearm without an owner's identification card, armed violence, violation of an order of protection, and residential burglary.

Esqueda allegedly broke into the home of his estranged wife about four hours earlier and brandished a handgun. He held his wife and children—ages 4, 10 and 12—at bay and threatened to kill them and himself, police said.

One of the children slipped out the back door and alerted the law to what was going on, police said.

Officers reportedly arrived to find Esqueda hiding in the bedroom. He emerged when ordered, police said, and the cops found a cocked and loaded .357 stuck under a mattress.

Esqueda's wife obtained an order of protection against Esqueda in February. The order forbids him from coming in contact with her or their chilren for two years.