Tom Phillips, a fugitive father who had been on the run with his three children for nearly four years, has been shot dead by New Zealand police following an exchange of fire. The incident occurred early Monday morning in Piopio, a rural town in the Waikato region, after police responded to a reported burglary at a farm supply store.
Police deputy commissioner Jill Rogers said officers were called to the scene at 2:30am and later pursued two suspects on a quad bike. The suspects were dressed in farm clothing and wearing headlamps. After the quad bike ran over spikes laid by police, it came to a halt, and one of the suspects opened fire with a high-powered rifle. Police returned fire, killing the shooter, believed to be Phillips pending formal identification. One police officer sustained critical but survivable injuries and is undergoing surgery.
Phillips had been hiding in New Zealand's rugged wilderness with his children—Jayda, 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9—since December 2021, following a custody dispute with their mother. The children were later found safe at a local campsite and are receiving medical checks and support. Their mother, known as Cat, expressed relief that the ordeal had ended but sadness over how events unfolded, saying, 'Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way.'
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described the events as 'sad and absolutely tragic,' while Waitomo Mayor John Robertson said the community was devastated. Specialist teams, including about 50 staff and the armed offenders squad, were involved in locating the children, with temperatures forecast to drop to freezing overnight.
