The final hours of Dezi Freeman, the man suspected of murdering two police officers in Victoria last August, ended in a standoff at an isolated property near Thologolong. Freeman was shot dead by police after emerging from his hideout armed with a weapon, believed to be the service firearm of one of the slain officers.
Police had been acting on a tip-off received last week, reporting a sighting of Freeman near Walwa. They arrived at the 35-hectare property on Murray River Road about 24 hours before the confrontation, which occurred in the early hours of Monday. Freeman was living in a makeshift camp of shipping containers and portable dongas, without running water or electricity.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that it would be 'very difficult' for Freeman to have survived in the remote area without external assistance. 'We will track backwards from here to work out how long he’s been here, and who helped him to be here,' Bush said. He emphasised the importance of understanding who was complicit in aiding Freeman.
During the three-hour standoff, Freeman confirmed his identity to officers. He emerged from his hideout cloaked in a blanket or doona, which he dropped to reveal a weapon. Multiple officers opened fire; it is unclear if Freeman fired back. No police were injured.
Bush stated that he had seen video of the confrontation, which showed Freeman presenting a firearm at officers. 'That action took away any discretion our officers had to resolve this peacefully,' he said. The police chief confirmed that all tactical options had been exhausted before the use of lethal force.
The investigation now turns to how Freeman evaded capture for over 200 days and who may have helped him. Police and coronial inquests will seek to answer these questions, while Professional Standards will conduct a routine investigation into the police shooting.
