US EditionMan Believed to Be Fugitive Tom Phillips Shot Dead by New Zealand Police After Waikato Burglary
Tom Phillips, wanted for armed robbery and evading custody, was fatally shot during a burglary in Waikato; his three children aged 9 to 12 were found unharmed and are now in protective care.
- Fugitive Thomas Phillips was shot dead by New Zealand police during a confrontation following a burglary at a farm supply store in Piopio on the early morning of August 27, 2025.
- Phillips and his three children had been evading police since December 2021, triggering a near four-year manhunt intensified by his outstanding charges including aggravated robbery and unlawful firearm possession.
- Police responded to a call around 2:30 a.m. reporting a burglary in progress, encountered gunfire at close range from a quad bike with multiple firearms, and a police officer was critically injured by a high-powered rifle shot to the head.
- Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed the children were found later that day in a remote campsite near Marokopa, are well and uninjured, and will undergo medical checks, while investigation continues and authorities coordinate care.
- Phillips' fatal shooting ended the search, drawing national attention and a sombre response from leaders and the children’s mother, who expressed relief and sadness over the outcome.
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153 Articles
The police just revealed the underside of Tom Phillips' run and his 3 children for almost four years. The man was killed on Monday during a confrontation with the police.
New Zealand Police Kill Fugitive Father In Shootout
For nearly four years, New Zealanders watched the mystery of Tom Phillips unfold like a real-life thriller. A father who vanished with his three children in 2021 slipped through police dragnets and divided small-town opinion. Was he a desperate dad or a wanted criminal? This week, the story reached its tragic end.Phillips was shot dead Monday in Waikato after opening fire on police during a suspected burglary. One officer was critically wounded …
New Zealand Man Who Was On The Run For Years With Kids Shot After Robbing Supply Store
A New Zealand man has died after a shootout with officers in Waikato. Authorities revealed his identity, explaining that he had lived off the grid for years with his three children. What happened: According to a report by the Guardian, Tom Phillips disappeared into the Waikato bush with his three children in December 2021 following a dispute with their mother. Per a news release by the New Zealand Police, officers responded to a burglary report…
Tom Phillips was shot dead by police and his children were recovered from the wild area they had inhabited since December 2021.
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