Fugitive Dezi Freeman has been shot dead by police, six months after allegedly shooting two police officers in Victoria’s High Country.
Victoria Police confirmed a man had been shot about 8.30am Monday at a rural property.
“A man has been fatally shot by police at a property in north-east Victoria this morning as part of the operation to locate Desmond Freeman,” police said on Monday.
“No police officers were injured during the incident.
“The State Coroner will attend the scene and the investigation will be oversighted by Professional Standards Command, as per standard process for a police shooting.
“Further information will be released today as the situation develops.”
Freeman, formerly Filby, allegedly gunned down two police officers at a remote Porepunkah property, in Victoria’s northeast, on August 26 while they were trying to execute a search warrant.
Detective leading senior constable Neal Thompson and senior constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were tragically killed, and a third police officer was seriously injured during the alleged shooting.
Police last saw the 56-year-old flee into bushland near the Rayner Track property after the fatal incident armed with guns.
The self-described sovereign citizen was a married father of two and an experienced bushman who had previously been hostile towards police and the judicial system.
A large-scale manhunt involving 450 Victoria Police officers, Australian Defence Force members, Australian Federal Police and officers from other states searched for the alleged double-murderer using heat detecting assets and other technology.
Heavily armed officers in Bearcats and police vehicles were seen searching Freeman’s property.
More than 100 properties in the Porepunkah region were also searched by police in the hunt for the alleged gunman.
There was speculation Freeman could be hiding underground in one of the hundreds of mineshafts in the area or was being harboured by sympathisers.
A $1m reward was offered to anyone who provided information that led to his arrest.
A no-fly zone was in place banning all aircraft, including drones, from flying within a 7.5km zone of the Porepunkah Airport.
“Given the suspect in this matter is heavily armed, this condition has been granted due to the risk to aircraft and drones,” police said.
One of the two police officers gunned down at Porepunkah, senior constable de Waart-Hottart, 35, was laid to rest on September 5.
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said de Waart-Hottart was on temporary assignment in Wangaratta at the time of the alleged shooting.
Detective Thompson was about to retire after 38 years of service with Victoria Police.
More to come.
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