Victoria Police have conducted firearms testing near Porepunkah, about 210km north-east of Melbourne, following reports of a single gunshot heard on 26 August. The testing, which took place near Barrett Lane and Rayner Track, was triggered by a member of the public reporting the sound at roughly 11.45am that day.
An hour earlier, fugitive Desmond 'Dezi' Freeman is alleged to have opened fire on police officers who were serving a warrant at his Porepunkah home. Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were killed, and a third officer wounded. Freeman fled into dense bushland and has not been seen since.
Despite over 1,700 tipoffs, no confirmed sightings have been recorded. The search was scaled back to more than 200 officers in September, and Mount Buffalo National Park reopened to the public in late October. Police are appealing for anyone who may have heard the gunshot to come forward.
Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has outlined three possible scenarios: Freeman could still be alive in the area, alive but being helped by others, or deceased. Authorities have offered a $1 million reward, the largest in state history for an arrest, and the public is advised not to approach the armed and dangerous suspect.
