New Zealand fugitive father killed in shootout with police | International

WELLINGTON, Sept 8, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A New Zealand father who spent nearly four years on the run with his children was killed in a police shootout on Monday, authorities said. Tom Phillips, who absconded with his three children in December 2021 after a row with his former partner, died in the rolling hill country of the North Island's Waikato region. His case captivated the country, particularly in the Waikato area and the town of Marokopa where Phillips was suspected of hiding. The family has eluded capture for nearly four years despite several sightings, including CCTV apparently showing Phillips and a child breaking into a store last month. Police said they were called in the early hours of Monday morning...