Anthony Yates
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.
Videos by Rare
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 at a commercial address in Piopio on September 8 at around 2:30 AM. The caller described two people breaking into a store wearing head torches, noting one was shorter than the other.
- The pair left the store at around 2:45 AM on a quad bike. Authorities set up spike strips further up the road, which disabled the vehicle. The driver, identified as Tom Phillips, fired at officers, striking one in the head and shoulder.
- A second police unit returned fire, incapacitating Philips. Officers rendered aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The news release explains that officers found multiple weapons on and around the quad bike.
- Emergency services airlifted the injured officer to a hospital at around 4:50 AM.
New Zealand Police Recovered The Missing Children
The children are safe: The news release explains that Phillips’s accomplice was one of the missing children. They were unharmed during the shooting and detained by police.
- Authorities posted an updated report explaining that specialist officers swept the area. They located the missing children roughly 2KM from where the shooting took place at around 4:30 PM.
- Many details about the children’s condition remain unclear, but the release reads, “While they are safe, this is the start of a long journey of recovery, and their welfare remains our top priority. For that reason, we will not be going into details about where they are now or their mental state.”
- Officials confirmed that officers found the children alone in a makeshift camp. In their most recent update, police say they recovered three firearms from the scene of the shooting and more at the camp.
The investigation remains ongoing, but detectives are speaking with locals to understand Phillip’s movements in the area. Acting Deputy Commissioner Rogers said the children have been reunited and are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki, a government organization responsible for child safety.
