A father who had been on the run for three years with his children in New Zealand was tragically shot dead by police in a dramatic showdown. Tom Phillips, the fugitive father, had been evading authorities since 2022 after a custody dispute with his ex-partner resulted in him taking his children away.

The stand-off between Phillips and police came to a deadly conclusion when officers encountered the wanted man and his children in a remote area. Despite attempts to negotiate and peacefully resolve the situation, the confrontation ended in tragedy as Phillips was fatally shot.

Authorities are now searching for the whereabouts of Phillips' children, who were with him at the time of the shooting. The incident has sparked a nationwide search for the missing children, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.

The community is in shock over the violent turn of events, as details continue to emerge about the circumstances leading up to the deadly encounter. The tragic outcome has left many questioning the effectiveness of the justice system and the impact on those left behind.