Tom Phillips shot dead as his missing kids found alive after four years on run

The children of fugitive Tom Phillips have been found safe after four years on the run just hours after their dad was shot dead by police.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers confirmed they were discovered at a campsite around 4.30pm on Monday, describing them as safe and well. Phillips was shot earlier that day while allegedly carrying out a burglary. A witness raised the alarm around 2:30am after spotting two figures - believed to be Tom Phillips and his 12-year-old daughter Jayda - in "farm clothing," and headlamps raiding PGG Wrightson, a rural supply store in Piopio, western Waikato, New Zealand. The pair fled on a quad bike but were intercepted an hour later, around 33km away on Te Anga Road, where police deployed road spikes.

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Phillips was then confronted by a lone officer. He opened fire with a high-powered rifle, striking the officer in the head. When backup arrived, police shot and killed Phillips, while Jayda was taken into custody. His two other children, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, were missing at the time, prompting a frantic search.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers later confirmed the siblings were found alone at a campsite and were cooperating with investigators. She said: "I can confirm that the children are well and uninjured, and they will be taken to a location this evening for medical checks".

Praising the efforts of the search teams, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers added: "This is a result of incredible work by police who had to contend with a high-risk situation and difficult circumstances both earlier this morning and throughout the day. I want to acknowledge our colleague who was shot and faces a long recovery."

The male officer shot by Phillips was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. He has already undergone "the first of many surgeries after being shot multiple times," the force said.

Phillips and his three young children vanished from the rural Waikato town of Marokopa in December 2021 after a dispute with their mother. The dad is alleged to have committed a bank robbery in September 2023. All three children were first sighted with their father on October 3, 2024, when they were spotted walking through Marokopa farmland - are believed to have lived in the wilderness ever since.

Breaking her silence, their mum, Cat, said: "We are deeply relieved that for our tamariki (the Māori word for children) this ordeal has come to an end. They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care.

"At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved.

"We also extend our aroha (love) to those in the community who have been affected, and our heartfelt gratitude to the many people who have supported us over these past four years. Your compassion has sustained us," Cat added. "As a whānau (family), we are now attempting to work in cooperation with the relevant government agencies to support the safe return and reconnection of our tamariki.

"They have endured a long and difficult journey, and we ask for privacy as we help them adjust and reintegrate into a stable and loving environment."