Father on the Run Killed in Police Shootout After Four Years in Hiding
A father who had evaded authorities for nearly four years while living in New Zealand’s remote wilderness with his three children was fatally shot by police during a break-in early Monday, officials confirmed.
Tom Phillips disappeared with his children just before Christmas 2021 after a disagreement with their mother. Police said they responded to a commercial property in Piopio around 2:30 a.m. following reports of a burglary at a rural farm supply store.
Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers stated that witnesses reported two individuals on a quad bike, dressed in farm attire and wearing headlamps. Officers later spotted the bike carrying stolen goods along a rural road. Police deployed tire spikes at an intersection, disabling the vehicle.
After the bike stopped, an officer who approached the scene was met with gunfire at close range.
“Our officer was hit in the head,” Rogers said. “Shortly after, additional officers arrived and engaged with the suspect, who died at the scene.”
While formal identification is still pending, authorities believe the deceased is Tom Phillips.
Rogers confirmed one of Phillips’ children was found nearby, along with several firearms.
“We are actively searching for Phillips’ other children, who we are deeply concerned about,” she added. The child found at the scene is receiving support, though officials declined to disclose their location.
Phillips was given emergency medical aid but did not survive. The injured officer is in critical condition and undergoing surgery.
“This was a deeply distressing incident for everyone involved in this remote rural area,” Rogers said.
In a statement to RNZ, the children’s mother, identified as Cat, expressed relief that the ordeal had ended but sadness over the circumstances.
“We always hoped the children would be returned safely and peacefully,” she said, extending sympathy to the injured officer and affected community.
“Your kindness has been a source of strength for us,” she added.
Cat said the family would collaborate with officials to ensure the children’s safe reintegration.
“They have been through a long and difficult experience, and we ask for privacy as we help them adjust to a stable and caring home.”
The Waikato region, where Phillips was believed to have hidden, features coastal expanses, dense forests, farmlands, and small rural communities.
Phillips came from Marokopa, a secluded coastal area with fewer than 100 residents.
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