Authorities in New Zealand on Tuesday released photos and more information about one of the camps where Tom Phillips and his three children were hiding before he was killed in a shootout with police on Monday.

New Zealand Police on Tuesday released photos of the camp where Tom Phillips and his three children were staying prior to Monday's shooting. Photo courtesy of New Zealand Police/Release UPI Two of Tom Phillips' three children were found at the camp, and they have since be reunited with the third child, police said Tuesday. Photo courtesy of New Zealand Police/Release UPI It was not clear how long Tom Phillips and his three children lived at the camp in Piopio, but the four had been on the run since December 2021. Photo courtesy of New Zealand Police/Release UPI

Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Authorities in New Zealand on Tuesday released photos and more information about one of the camps where Tom Phillips and his three children were hiding before he was killed in a shootout with police on Monday.

Phillips had been on the run since December 2019, when he entered the New Zealand bush with his three young children. Until the manhunt came to a close Monday with his death, only brief sightings of them had been reported in the 3 1/2 years.

Authorities said the camp was found about a mile from where Phillips was shot dead in Piopio, a North Island town, located about 280 miles north of the capital Wellington.

Several firearms were located at the camp, New Zealand Police said.

Two of his three children were found at the makeshift camp on Monday, hours after Phillips was killed in a shootout with police. The third child was present during the shooting, and was unharmed.

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An officer was critically injured in the shooting and has undergone surgery.

"While the officer has a long road to recovery, we will be there to support him and his whanau at every step," New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said in a statement. Whanau is a Maori word for the concept of family.

The shooting followed police being notified of a business in the town of around people 400 people being burgled by two people with headlamps early Monday.

The two suspects loaded their all-terrain vehicle with the alleged stolen goods and left the scene. Police, believing the suspects to include Phillips, laid spikes at an intersection, causing the vehicle to come to a stop shortly after driving over the law enforcement tool.

Phillips then fired multiple rounds at the responding officer, who was shot as he exited his police vehicle.

Officers who arrived on the scene then opened fire on Phillips, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Tuesday that three firearms, including the one used by Phillips, were recovered from the scene of the shooting.

"The body of Tom Phillips was removed from the scene late yesterday and there will be a post-mortem tomorrow, after which his body will be released to his family," acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers said Tuesday.

Both the camp and the scene of the shooting remain active crime scenes, police said, with forensic staff still gathering evidence at both.

Rogers said the three children have since been reunited and were in the care of New Zealand's Ministry for Children, also known as Oranga Tamariki.

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"Our staff described the children as being engaged and they readily spoke with our staff, who provided them with snacks and drinks while they waited to be brought out of the campsite," she said.

"While they are now in the care of Oranga Tamariki, we will continue to work closely with the children, taking the time and sensitivity that is needed after the ordeal they have been through."