A man who had been hiding in New Zealand’s wilderness with his three children for nearly four years has been shot dead by police.
Tom Phillips, who vanished with his children in late 2021, had managed to evade capture despite a nationwide search and several reported sightings. His disappearance became one of the country’s most gripping and enduring mysteries.
According to police, Phillips was killed during a shoot-out around 2:30am local time on Monday (14:30 GMT Sunday) in Piopio, a small town in northern New Zealand. A police officer was seriously injured after being shot in the head during the confrontation.
Authorities said officers were responding to a robbery at a commercial property when Phillips and one of his children were spotted on a quad bike. Police pursued them and deployed road spikes. The bike hit the spikes, veered off-road, and came to a halt.
As officers approached, Phillips opened fire. A second patrol unit returned fire, killing him at the scene. While formal identification is pending, police said they are confident the deceased is Phillips.
Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed that the child with him provided “crucial” information that later led officers to the two other children at a remote campsite in dense bush. All three children were found unharmed, and their mother as well as Phillips’ parents have been notified.
It remains unclear whether the children have been told of their father’s death or who will take responsibility for their care moving forward.
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