New Zealand fugitive dad killed by police

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Watch: Potential Tom Phillips sighting launched by New Zealand police

A father who had been on the run along with his three kids in New Zealand's wilderness for practically 4 years has been shot lifeless by police.

Tom Phillips, who disappeared along with his kids in late 2021, had evaded seize regardless of a nationwide search and a number of sightings through the years.

The case had gripped the nation and stays considered one of New Zealand's most enduring mysteries.

Phillips was killed in a shootout round 02:30 on Monday (14:30 GMT Sunday) in Piopio, a small city in northern New Zealand, police mentioned.

Officers had been responding to a reported theft at a industrial property when Phillips and considered one of his kids had been noticed driving a quad bike.

Cops then gave chase earlier than laying highway spikes to cease them. The bike hit the spikes and went off highway.

When police reached the automobile they had been met with gunfire, Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers instructed reporters.

The primary attending officer on the scene was shot within the head, and stays in a severe situation, police mentioned.

A second patrol unit then engaged Phillips, who was shot and died on the scene. Whereas the physique had not been formally recognized on the time of the announcement, police had been assured it was Phillips.

The opposite two kids had been discovered later within the day at a distant campsite in dense bush. All three kids are unhurt, Rogers mentioned.

The kid he was with, who has not been recognized, had offered "essential" data that helped them find Phillips' two different kids later within the day.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/3cdc/live/f6eb8970-8c7c-11f0-9c3c-f96398c5fb8a.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/3cdc/live/f6eb8970-8c7c-11f0-9c3c-f96398c5fb8a.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3cdc/live/f6eb8970-8c7c-11f0-9c3c-f96398c5fb8a.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/3cdc/live/f6eb8970-8c7c-11f0-9c3c-f96398c5fb8a.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/3cdc/live/f6eb8970-8c7c-11f0-9c3c-f96398c5fb8a.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/3cdc/live/f6eb8970-8c7c-11f0-9c3c-f96398c5fb8a.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/3cdc/live/f6eb8970-8c7c-11f0-9c3c-f96398c5fb8a.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3cdc/live/f6eb8970-8c7c-11f0-9c3c-f96398c5fb8a.png.webp" loading="eager" alt="NZ police A New Zealand police photo of Tom Phillips" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> NZ police It was unclear whether or not the kids had been knowledgeable of their father's demise.

Police have notified their mom and Phillips' mother and father that the kids are protected, although they declined to touch upon who will present ongoing care.

The kids's mom, identified solely as Cat, instructed native media outlet RNZ she was "deeply relieved" that "this ordeal has come to an finish" after lacking her kids dearly "daily for practically 4 years." However, she continued: "We're saddened by how occasions unfolded immediately."

Authorities mentioned Phillips had been evading seize since failing to look in courtroom in 2022.

Earlier than they disappeared, Phillips and his kids had been dwelling in Marokopa, a small rural city within the area of Waikato. Phillips, believed to be in his late-30s this 12 months, had been described as an skilled hunter and bushman.

Police imagine he took his kids after shedding authorized custody of them.

Marokopa is an space surrounded by a really harsh panorama, a sweeping and tough shoreline, dense bush and forested terrain with a community of caves spaning many kilometres.

Locals know Phillips as a bushman with survival expertise that will have set him up for constructing shelters and foraging for meals within the wilderness.

Nonetheless, there have been indicators that he acquired determined for sources. Since 2023, there have been sightings of Phillips and his kids at quite a few break-ins at {hardware} and grocery shops.

Final October, a bunch of youngsters noticed them trekking via the bush and filmed the encounter. Within the video, Phillips and the kids had been sporting camouflaged clothes and every was carrying their very own packs.

The youngsters had briefly spoken to one of many kids, asking if anybody knew they had been there. The kid had replied "solely you" and stored strolling, New Zealand's 1News reported.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a314/live/1b870700-8c7d-11f0-994c-abc4af883890.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a314/live/1b870700-8c7d-11f0-994c-abc4af883890.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a314/live/1b870700-8c7d-11f0-994c-abc4af883890.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a314/live/1b870700-8c7d-11f0-994c-abc4af883890.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a314/live/1b870700-8c7d-11f0-994c-abc4af883890.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a314/live/1b870700-8c7d-11f0-994c-abc4af883890.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a314/live/1b870700-8c7d-11f0-994c-abc4af883890.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a314/live/1b870700-8c7d-11f0-994c-abc4af883890.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="NZ police Phillips and his three children, in this blurry image, seen wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying large backpacks, trek through green bush with bare earth and some water visible" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> NZ police Phillips and his three kids had been noticed trekking via the bush final October

Final 12 months, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Phillips over his suspected involvement in a financial institution theft in Te Kuiti, a small city on the North Island.

Police mentioned he had had an confederate through the alleged incident.

In actual fact, through the years, many have puzzled if Phillips acquired any assist from the tight-knit neighborhood in Marokopa, a city the place fewer than 100 folks lived, and the query stays unanswered.

Phillips's demise comes lower than a month after his household straight appealed to him to come back residence.

In an interview with native information web site Stuff, his sister Rozzi mentioned the household had been "prepared to assist [Phillips] stroll via what you should stroll via".

"I actually need to see you and the children and be a part of your lives once more," she mentioned then.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Chris Luxon has described the flip of occasions as "unhappy and completely tragic".

"This isn't what anyone needed to occur immediately. I believe that may be a constant feeling from all people throughout New Zealand," he mentioned in a weekly briefing on Monday.

Different New Zealanders are additionally involved about how Phillips's demise would have an effect on his kids's wellbeing.

Marlene McIsaac, a resident within the Waitomo district, says she wished there had been "a happier ending". "For the children, you recognize? The youngsters might be devastated," she instructed 1News.