A heroic father-of-three was killed as he tried to save a young a woman whose bag was being snatched.

Miguel Jose Briseno, 42, stepped in to fend off a thief who had attempted to steal a young woman's purse outside an apartment in Phoenix, Arizona, in the early hours of this morning.

But his throat was cut during a fight with the suspect and he later died in hospital from his injuries.

Scroll down for video

Miguel Jose Briseno (second from left, with his three sons) was killed when he stepped in to save a woman from a bag snatcher

Miguel Jose Briseno, pictured with his wife Graciela and three sons, died after a fight with the thief in the early hours of this morning

Police said a few people had been standing outside the apartment complex when the suspect approached the 23-year-old woman and grabbed her purse shortly after midnight.

After Briseno was left bleeding from the neck, the suspect let go of the 23-year-old woman's purse and ran from the scene, ABC15 reported.

Officers arrived in the area of 48th Street and Interstate 10 at around 12.30am,

The suspect is believed to be a dark-skinned male, who was last seen wearing all black, authorities said.

Briseno, pictured with the mother of his three children Graciela Lozano, died in hospital from his injuries after he was left bleeding from the neck

When the suspect grabbed a woman's purse shortly after midnight, Bresino (pictured above) stepped in to help

The father-of-three (pictured above with his three sons) got into a fight with the alleged thief and his neck was cut in the process

Police said a few people had been standing outside the apartment complex (pictured) when the suspect approached the 23-year-old woman

Phoenix police officer James Holmes warned people in a similar situation that their actions can have serious consequences.

But he added: 'It's very hard for me to say you shouldn't do anything. Just let it happen and be a good witness.'

He told ABC15: 'I don't think there's a lot of folks that would do that, but we always have to give that warning out.'

Anyone with information about the incident should call police on 480-948-6377.