Wellington, New Zealand — A man who evaded law enforcement for nearly four years in the remote New Zealand countryside with his three children was shot and killed by police on Monday, according to law enforcement sources.
At the time of the confrontation, one of Tom Phillips’ children was with him, while the other two were discovered hours later in a nearby forest following the shootout, which also left an officer critically wounded.
Phillips’ and his children’s disappearance in December 2021 perplexed investigators as they searched the thickly wooded areas where they believed the family was sheltering. The family resided in the isolated North Island rural settlement of Marokopa, and credible sightings of them had been scarce.
While Phillips has not been officially confirmed as the deceased individual, authorities suspect he is the man who was killed.
An officer suffered critical injuries due to a gunshot wound to the head during a confrontation with Phillips after he allegedly robbed an agricultural supplies store early Monday morning, as reported by Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers in Hamilton. The child present with Phillips during the robbery was taken into custody.
As the officer underwent surgery, it was stated that while his injuries were serious, they were survivable, with multiple surgeries likely needed. Concerns arose regarding the whereabouts of Phillips’ other two children immediately after the incident.
The Tom Phillips Case Captivates New Zealand
Phillips’ case has gripped the nation, with authorities frequently appealing for information without success. Sightings were limited mostly to surveillance footage showing him committing crimes in the area, including a bank robbery in May 2023 where he allegedly fired at a member of the public while with one of his children. Phillips did not have legal custody of his children, and it was said he took them amidst a custody dispute, denying them formal education and healthcare since their disappearance.
Authorities believed Phillips had assistance in hiding his family, and some locals showed support for him. A reward of 80,000 New Zealand dollars (about $47,000) was offered last June for information about the family’s location but was never claimed. This was not the first episode that put Phillips in the headlines; he previously prompted a national search when he and his children vanished in September 2021, which lasted three weeks after his truck was found abandoned.
Phillips and his children were sighted again in October 2024 by teenage pig hunters, capturing their encounter on video. Following that, surveillance footage revealed him robbing a grocery store with one child. The children’s mother, Cat, expressed her relief that her children’s harrowing ordeal had ended, stating, “They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years,” and looked forward to reuniting with them.
Phillips’ family had previously encouraged him to surrender and return the children, emphasizing their willingness to support him during this challenging time.
