Father’s fugitive in escape with children for almost four years was shot dead by the police ‘| World News

A man who has been hiding with his three children in the wilderness of New Zealand for almost four years is believed to have been shot dead after armed confrontation with the police.

Thomas Phillips and his two daughters and his son, who are believed to be 9, 10 and 12, have avoided the police since December 2021 in the remote part of the northern island of the country.

While formal identification has not yet been taken place, Deputy Commissioner of New Zealand Police Jill Rogers told a press conference on Monday: “We believe he is Tom Phillips.”

His relatives confirmed his death to local news outlets.

A police officer was shot at the head and was seriously injured during the confrontation with Phillips after he was believed to have robbed the agricultural inventory shop in the Waikato area in the early Monday morning, Rogers said.

The second police officer then arrived and Phillips was shot, and even though there was an attempt to save him at the scene, added Rogers.

A child who with Phillips at the time of the robbery was detained and worked with the authorities, the police said.

But the existence of two other children remains unknown.

“We have serious concerns for the children, and our focus is to find it,” said MS Rogers.

In August, the Phillips family Their silence to pull it back home.

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For the first time, his family directly begged Phillips in the hope that “it is possible, he will see this” and “that we are here for him”.

The child’s mother issued a statement to the New Zealand radio on Monday where he said he was “very relieved” that “trials” for his children had ended.

“They are very missed every day for almost four years, and we hope to welcome them at home with love and attention,” said the woman, who has been identified at local news outlets only with her first name, Cat.

Phillips do not have legal prisoners rights for their children, have been reported.