It was a shocking and violent end to a mystery that gripped a small nation for years: A fugitive father killed in front of his child, a police officer shot in the head, and two young children found alone at a remote campsite in the wilderness.

Police remain at the scene in Waitomo, in western Waikato early Monday morning.

Phillips, who has been on the run with his children for four years, was shot by police after the attempted burglary of a building in Piopio, authorities said