Father wanted by authorities meets tragic end, potentially endangering his children
In a dramatic turn of events, fugitive father Tom Phillips was shot dead by police in New Zealand's Waikato region on Monday. Phillips had been on the run since late 2021, evading authorities by hiding out in the region's thick bush and remote farmland.
Phillips had failed to attend a court hearing in 2022 and was pursued by police ever since. During the attempt to arrest him, a police officer was shot and seriously injured.
The police found Phillips at a campsite hideout, where they discovered quad bikes and ammunition. The image released by police shows quad bikes among trees, partially covered by blankets, at Phillips' campsite.
Phillips was accused of putting his children at risk with his actions and having "no regard" for their safety. He had three children, aged 9, 10, and 12, who were with him during his time as a fugitive. Despite the challenging terrain, police commissioner Richard Chambers stated that Phillips and the children moved around their hideouts frequently, making it difficult to capture them.
Commissioner Chambers also mentioned that there is a lot of work to understand who, if anyone, may have been assisting Phillips. He hopes to understand where the firearms came from, who provided them, and how Phillips acquired them.
Despite the harrowing circumstances, New Zealand's Ministry of Children official Warwick Morehu confirmed that the children "are doing well under the circumstances and engaging with the staff."
Police will also investigate if anyone was assisting Phillips while he was hiding. It is suspected he obtained weapons through unknown means while in hiding, and the police are investigating possible accomplices.
Phillips was presumably supported by people from his home village Marokopa, who secretly helped him hide with his children in the Waikato wilderness. Police Minister Mark Mitchell stated that Phillips' actions "quite literally put his children in harm's way."
The police's investigation into Phillips' activities and potential accomplices continues.
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