Father with three children in wilderness believed shot dead during police clash

A Fugitive Father and His Children in the New Zealand Wilderness

A fugitive father who had been hiding for years with his three children in the dense wilderness of New Zealand is believed to have been shot dead during an armed confrontation with police. This incident occurred after a break-in, according to police reports on Monday.

An officer was also injured during the confrontation when he was shot in the head. Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed that the deceased man is believed to be Tom Phillips. One of the children was with him at the time and is currently in police custody. Authorities are now searching for the remaining two children.

Tom Phillips disappeared with his children in December 2021. Despite multiple sightings, public appeals, and extensive police searches, their location remained unknown for years. Police believe the family was living off-grid, relying on the father’s survival skills to provide food, shelter, and clothing for the children.

Early Monday morning, police were called to reports of a break-in at a farming goods store in Poipoi, a small town in the western Waikato district of the North Island. Officers noticed a four-wheeled farm bike with two people leaving the scene on a gravel road. They set up road spikes at a nearby intersection.

The quad bike ran over the spikes, causing it to stop on a rural road. Shortly after, the first attending officer encountered the stopped bike and was confronted by gunfire at close range. The officer sustained a head injury and took cover. When another officer arrived, they engaged in a shoot-out with Phillips.

A second person was found at the scene, and multiple firearms were discovered around the quad bike. The injured officer has been airlifted to Waikato Hospital for surgery.

Rogers emphasized that locating the other two children is a top priority. Tom Phillips’ sister, Rozzi Phillips, confirmed to a media outlet that he had been killed.

Search for the Remaining Children

Police have expressed serious concerns about the well-being of the children, who are believed to be 9, 10, and 12 years old. They have not had contact with their mother since their father failed to return them home.

A large-scale police operation is currently underway in a rural area near Marakopa, where Phillips and the children were thought to be hiding in dense bushland. Police have asked the public and media to respect the ongoing operation and any cordons in place to ensure safety.

Just two weeks ago, law enforcement released CCTV footage of what they believed to be Phillips and one of the children involved in a burglary at a convenience store in the same town as Monday's shooting. In June, police offered a reward of 80,000 New Zealand dollars for information leading to the family’s location and safe return.

Phillips is accused of several crimes, including the armed robbery of a bank in May 2023, when two individuals were seen escaping on a motorbike with cash. He faced various charges, such as aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The children’s mother, known as Cat, expressed relief that the ordeal had ended. In a statement to a media outlet, she said: “We are deeply relieved that for our (children) this ordeal has come to an end. 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 added, “At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved.”