The relatives of a fugitive father, who was killed by police after evading capture with his three children in New Zealand’s wilderness for nearly four years, have criticized both the authorities and media following his demise.

A witness notified police after seeing two individuals—believed to be Tom Phillips and his 12-year-old daughter Jayda—wearing ‘farm clothing’ and headlamps, as they robbed PGG Wrightson, a rural supply store in Piopio on the country’s North Island, at 2.30 am on Monday. Phillips and Jayda fled on their quad bike but were halted by police road spikes around 33km away on Te Anga Road at 3.30 am.

Phillips (pictured) was then faced by a lone police officer, whom he shot in the head using a high-powered rifle. Upon the arrival of a second police car, Phillips was shot dead, and Jayda was taken into custody. Phillips’s other two children, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, were not present, and police confirmed that the search for the missing children is ongoing.

The injured officer was airlifted to the hospital in critical condition and has undergone the first of many surgeries after being shot multiple times. Phillips’s father, Neville, and brother, Ben, expressed their frustration when approached by Stuff while working on the family farm in Marokopa. ‘You don’t know what it’s like to be shafted by the cops several times,’ the father told the publication. ‘Just put yourself in our shoes.’

Acting NZ Deputy Police Commissioner Jill Rogers reported that Maverick and Ember still remain missing, 12 hours after their father was shot dead. The two are thought to be alone and possibly armed. Temperatures are expected to drop below zero on Monday night. ‘We have not located them at this stage, and we remain as our primary focus to reunite those children and extract them as soon as possible from where they may be,’ Deputy Commissioner Rogers said in a press conference at 3.30 pm (local time). ‘We believe that the children, at the moment, may be on their own. We can’t speculate as to whether they have assistance with them at the moment. It will be down to freezing point this evening. Hence we want this incident resolved as soon as possible.’

She confirmed that Jayda was cooperating with the police and might be brought to the search site to help find her missing siblings. Jayda has yet to reunite with her mother, Cat, who hasn’t seen her children in almost four years. The elite Special Tactics Group is involved in the ongoing search, while police negotiators are on standby. Phillips’s body remains at the scene of the shootout. ‘I can confirm that the search, the scene examination continues this afternoon, further up the road from where we are today, that may well result in road closures here this evening that go through the evening and into tomorrow,’ Deputy Commissioner Rogers added.

She was earlier asked about rumours that a baby may be missing with the other children, but she declined to comment. ‘The Herald (newspaper) understands there also may be a baby missing with the other children. Can you give us any information about this?’ a reporter asked. Deputy Commissioner Rogers replied: ‘No, I’m sorry, I can’t.’ She said ‘officer intuition’ had led cops to lay road spikes down a long rural road, where Phillips was eventually caught and subsequently killed.

Police found a haul of stolen items including clothes and footwear on the quad bike, along with multiple firearms. ‘This is devastating news for Tom Phillips’ family, and is the outcome that nobody wanted,’ Deputy Commissioner Rogers said. ‘This has been a deeply traumatic incident this morning for those involved.’ The children’s mother, Cat, earlier broke her silence in a statement. ‘We are deeply relieved that for our tamariki (the Māori word for children) this ordeal has come to an end,’ she said. ‘They have been dearly missed every day for nearly four years, and we are looking forward to welcoming them home with love and care. ‘At the same time, we are saddened by how events unfolded today. Our hope has always been that the children could be returned in a peaceful and safe way for everyone involved.’

Cat also expressed her love to the police officer injured in the incident. ‘We also extend our aroha (love) to those in the community who have been affected, and our heartfelt gratitude to the many people who have supported us over these past four years. Your compassion has sustained us,’ Cat continued. ‘As a whānau (family), we are now attempting to work in cooperation with the relevant government agencies to support the safe return and reconnection of our tamariki. ‘They have endured a long and difficult journey, and we ask for privacy as we help them adjust and reintegrate into a stable and loving environment.’

Earlier, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has advised the force that the shot officer ‘is conscious and talking to his fellow officers’. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told media that he had been briefed by police but wouldn’t be commenting. A road block is currently in place on a section of Te Anga Road, past the Waitomo Caves between Hauturu and Waipuna Roads. Hauturu and Waipuna Roads are also closed. Phillips vanished from the rural town of Marokopa on New Zealand’s North Island in December 2021 with his three children following a custody dispute with their mother. They are believed to have lived in the wilderness ever since, despite numerous police search operations and a NZ$80,000 reward. There have been several possible sightings in the last year.

Police recently released footage of Phillips and one of his children captured on CCTV using an angle grinder to break into the Piopio Superette general store. It came days after Phillips’ family broke their silence for the first time in almost four years. His mother Julia penned an emotional open letter to her missing son and grandchildren, which was read out by her daughter Rozzi in an emotional interview with Stuff journalist Paddy Gower on his weekly current affairs program.

‘Tom – I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this,’ the letter began. ‘Not considering how much we love you and can support you. ‘It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here. Thinking what could have been if you had not gone away. ‘Jayda, Maverick, Ember – I love you so much and really miss being part of your lives. ‘Every day I wake up and hope that today will be the day that you will come home.’ His sister Rozzi also publicly pleaded for her brother to come out of hiding and assured him that the family will be there for him.