FUGITIVE DAD KILLED IN NEW ZEALAND
A father who’s been on the run after kidnapping his three children for four years has been shot dead.
Tom Phillips had been the subject of a nationwide search in his home country of New Zealand ever since he took the children and disappeared.
On Monday, police officers were called to a commercial property in the town of Piopio. There was a break in. While at the scene, Phillips and one of his children were seen riding a quad bike.
The officers believed the man to be Phillips, so they gave chase and laid road spikes to stop them. When the quad bike hit the spikes, it went off the road.
Once the officers reached the quad bike, Phillips started shooting at them, hitting the first attending officer at the scene in the head. The officer remains in serious condition in the hospital.
The second patrol unit fired at Phillips, who was shot and died at the scene.
The other two children were later found at a remote campsite in the bush, not far from where Phillips was shot.
Over the last four years, Phillips is believed to have been involved in several crime-related acts, including the robbing of a bank.
The children’s mother has been notified that her children have been found.
Image credit: NZ Herald