A man who had been hiding with his three children in the New Zealand wilderness for nearly four years has been shot dead after an armed confrontation with police.
Thomas Phillips and his two daughters and son, believed to be aged 9, 10 and 12, had been evading police since December 2021 in a remote part of the country’s North Island.
While formal identification has yet to take place, New Zealand’s acting deputy police commissioner Jill Rogers said at a news conference on Monday: “We believe him to be Tom Phillips.”
His relatives confirmed his death to local news outlets.
Image:
Tom Phillips. Pic: New Zealand Police
A police officer was shot in the head and critically injured during the confrontation with Phillips, who he is believed to have robbed a farm supplies shop in the Waikato region in the early hours of Monday morning, Ms Rogers said.
A second police officer then arrived and Phillips was shot, and despite efforts to save him, he died at the scene, Ms Rogers added.
One child, who was with Phillips at the time of the robbery, was taken into custody. The other two were found hours later at a remote campsite and also taken into custody.
The children’s mother, referred to as Cat, said in a statement to state-owned Radio New Zealand the events had brought up a wave of complex emotions.
“They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care,” she said.
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In August, the family of Phillips broke their silence to appeal for him to return home.
For the first time, his family directly appealed to Phillips in the hope that “just maybe, he’s going to see this” and “that we are here for him”.
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The case has fascinated New Zealanders and police made regular unsuccessful appeals for people to report any sightings of Phillips.
There was sporadic surveillance footage that showed him allegedly committing crimes in the area – but very few in-person or concrete sightings.
He was wanted for an armed bank robbery while on the run in May 2023, accompanied by one of his children, in which he reportedly shot at a member of the public.
Phillips did not have legal custody rights for his children, it has been reported.