Dezi Freeman's Final Stand: Fugitive Shot Dead After Seven-Month Manhunt
In the early hours of Monday morning, a dramatic confrontation ended the seven-month search for Dezi Freeman, the fugitive accused of shooting dead two police officers in Victoria. Police had arrived at an isolated 35-hectare property near Thologolong approximately 24 hours prior, acting on a tipoff that Freeman had been sighted in the area. The rural Victorian location, described as a ramshackle camp with shipping containers and portable dongas lacking running water or electricity, became the scene of Freeman's final hours.
The Standoff and Confrontation
At 5:30 am, after a full day of surveillance, police confronted Freeman, urging him to surrender peacefully. According to authorities, the standoff lasted three hours, during which Freeman confirmed his identity to officers. Police report that he emerged from his hideout cloaked in a blanket or doona, dropping it to reveal a weapon—believed to be a service weapon from one of the officers killed in August. Multiple officers opened fire, resulting in Freeman's death at the scene; it is not known if he fired back, and no police were injured.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that he had viewed video of the incident, asserting that Freeman was given every opportunity to resolve the situation peacefully. "It is quite clear to us now that the deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully and did not take that option," Bush said. "I have seen a video of the deceased leaving the building and presenting a firearm at our officers. That action took away any discretion our officers had to resolve this peacefully."
Investigation into Aiding and Abetting
Police are now focused on uncovering who may have assisted Freeman during his evasion. Despite no other person being at the property for at least 24 hours before the confrontation, Bush emphasized that it would be "very difficult" for Freeman to have travelled from Porepunkah to Thologolong without external help, given the rugged terrain. "We will track backwards from here to work out how long he's been here, and who helped him to be here," Bush explained. "If anyone was complicit, they will be held to account."
The manhunt began on August 26, 2025, when Freeman allegedly shot dead Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart during a search warrant execution in Porepunkah. Over the following months, police deployed extensive resources, including a $1 million reward and international assistance, but Freeman remained elusive, leading many to speculate he had died. A recent tipoff reanimated the investigation, culminating in Monday's fatal encounter.
Ongoing Inquiries and Coronial Process
While the man shot dead has not been formally identified, Bush expressed confidence that it is Freeman, with formal identification expected within 24 to 48 hours. The incident will undergo a coronial inquest and an investigation by Professional Standards, standard procedure for police shootings. Bush affirmed, "Everything I know at this moment tells me the shooting was justified. There was an opportunity for him to surrender peacefully, which he did not."
As authorities piece together Freeman's movements and support network, questions linger about how he survived in such harsh conditions and who might have harbored him. The case highlights the challenges of manhunts in remote areas and the complexities of policing in Victoria's wild country.
