A PERSON has been shot dead by police in the area of New Zealand where famous fugitive Tom Phillips is thought to be hiding with his three kids.
Police were called to a burglary, and this led to a confrontation in which an officer was also shot.
Tom Phillips has been on the run for nearly 4 years
Jayda, 11, Maverick, 10 and Ember, nine have been out of education since their dad took them off-grid
New CCTV footage is thought to show fugitive Tom Phillips and one of his children burgling a shopNew Zealand Police
Police remained at the scene in Waitomo, in western Waikato early Monday morning.
The identity of the man who died has not been confirmed – though it is near to where Phillips was believed to have been caught on CCTV robbing a shop last week.
Phillips disappeared into the wild almost four years ago, and has evaded capture despite an intense ongoing search and numerous sightings.
Phillips was last spotted last week on CCTV robbing a shop before making off on a quadbike.
A police officer was shot before another officer opened fire and shot the suspect, who died at the scene.
A second person was arrested, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said.
The Commissioner said: “Police were called about 2.30am to a Waitomo address after reports of a burglary at a commercial property.”
A man was shot by police during an exchange of fire, he said.
Chambers continued: “The man was provided immediate first aid, however died at the scene.
“The officer was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.
“A significant police operation is underway.”
A message to police staff revealed the officer was conscious and talking.
Phillips vanished into the wilderness in December 2021 after losing legal custody of his kids – Jayda, 11, Maverick, 10 and Ember, nine – to his wife.
Since going off-grid, he is wanted for a range of charges including robbery and possession of a gun.
A national manhunt has been live ever since and he has been spotted various time, but the authorities have so far failed to catch the accomplished bushman.
Last week, police believe they spotted him on CCTV footage showing two masked figures on the streets of Piopio breaking into a shop.
Police said they nabbed a stash of “grocery items” from inside.
They were seen loading up their bounty onto a quadbike before speeding off.
Cops said there are “confident” that the two people in this footage are Phillips and one of his children.
As the footage emerged last week, Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders said: “At the heart of this are three children who have been away from their home for four years. Their wellbeing is our main focus.”
The dad faces a range of charges including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and illegally possessing a firearm, police said.
He stands accused of robbing a bank and firing a gun at a supermarket worker in 2023.
Four people believed to be the family were previously filmed trekking by some pig farmers