Search for Tom Phillips' Missing Children After Fatal Police Shooting
The story of Tom Phillips and his three children has taken another dramatic turn in New Zealand, and it’s one that has shaken communities across the country. Phillips, who had been on the run for nearly four years after vanishing with his kids from the Marokopa area in December 2021, was fatally shot by police early Monday morning.
Police say the shooting happened near the rural Waikato town of Piopio, where officers were responding to a burglary. When confronted, Phillips allegedly fired multiple shots at police, hitting one officer in the head at close range. That officer was left critically injured and was airlifted to Waikato Hospital, where several surgeries have already been carried out. His condition remains serious, but doctors are working around the clock to stabilise him.
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At the scene of the confrontation, one of Phillips’ three children was found. That child is now in police custody and is being given full wraparound support. But the search is far from over — two of Phillips’ children are still missing. A large cordon has been established along Te Anga Road, stretching roughly two kilometres in both directions, and it’s expected to stay in place for days as police continue what they’ve called “urgent inquiries” to track down the remaining children.
The children’s mother, Cat, who has lived through almost four years of heartbreak and uncertainty, released a statement today. She said the family feels a “deep sense of relief” that this ordeal may finally be coming to an end, though there is also sorrow at how the events unfolded. She expressed gratitude to everyone who has supported her and her whānau throughout the long search.
Phillips’ disappearance back in 2021 sparked one of the most widely followed missing persons cases in New Zealand. Despite sightings and repeated police appeals, he managed to evade authorities while hiding in the wilderness with his children. Over time, he also faced a growing list of criminal charges, including aggravated robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. Just weeks ago, police released new security footage that appeared to show Phillips and one of his children breaking into a rural store, confirming he was still active in the area.
Now, his death has closed one chapter but left another wide open. The priority remains the safe recovery of the two missing children, who are still out there somewhere. Communities in Waikato and beyond are waiting anxiously for news, hoping this painful saga can finally reach an end that puts the children’s safety first.
This has been a story of fear, resilience, and deep family struggle, but most of all, it’s now a story about finding and protecting those kids — and that’s where everyone’s eyes remain.
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