A person has been shot dead by police in the New Zealand region where fugitive father Tom Phillips has been on the run for four years.
Police remain at the scene in Waitomo, in western Waikato early Monday morning.
It’s understood that police responded to a burglary when there was a confrontation.
A police officer was shot before another officer opened fire and shot dead the suspect.
Another person was taken into custody.
The injured officer was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers advised the force that the officer ‘is conscious and talking to his fellow officers.’
Otorohanga mayor Max Baxter is ‘getting the feeling’ the incident was related to Phillips after hearing ‘all sorts of rumours’ about the operation, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Phillips vanished from the rural town of Marokopa on New Zealand’s North Island in December 2021 with Jayda, now 12, Maverick, ten, and Ember, nine 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 – most recently in February, when four people dressed in camouflage clothing were spotted sitting near State Highway 4, south of Te Kūiti.
More to come.
