police Locate Children of Fugitive Tom Phillips After Shootout
marokopa, New Zealand – August 3, 2023 – Police have located three children linked too fugitive Tom Phillips following a shooting in rural Waikato this morning. An officer was shot with a “high-powered rifle” during the operation, but was not injured. One child has been secured, and authorities are continuing to search for the remaining two.
The incident unfolded after police initiated a search for Phillips and his children, who have been missing on and off since September 2021. Phillips was originally found with his children later that month after an initial disappearance, appearing to have been camping.They disappeared again from Marokopa in December 2020.”This has been a deeply traumatic incident this morning for those involved, it has been confronting and challenging in a small, rural, isolated location,” saeid a police spokesperson. A critical incident investigation is underway, and the Independent Police conduct Authority has been notified.
Police released an image of Phillips taken at a Bunnings store in Te Rapa, Hamilton, on August 2, 2023, showing him wearing a white beanie, surgical mask, and glasses.
Phillips is facing multiple charges, including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding, and unlawful posession of a firearm. police have previously stated they believed he was receiving assistance. Recent activity linked to Phillips includes a burglary in Piopio on August 27, where footage showed a man believed to be Phillips and one of his children. The store owner reported only milk was taken, despite other items being accessible.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders stated, “It’s not the outcome we wanted, but we’ve got one child out safely, and our focus is now is really finding the other children, getting them out safely.”
Police found “multiple firearms” on a quad bike involved in the incident. The officer who deployed spikes at an intersection, anticipating Phillips’ route, relied on “officer intuition,” according to authorities.
