The manhunt for Dezi Freeman, a 'sovereign citizen' who killed two police officers and wounded a third in August 2025, has ended with his death. Freeman was shot dead on Monday after a standoff with police at a rural property near Thologolong, about 100km from where he was last seen. He had evaded capture for seven months.
Victorian police chief commissioner Mike Bush confirmed that Freeman was armed when he was killed. Officers had been involved in a three-hour standoff with him after demanding his surrender. Bush said Freeman left the building he was staying in, cloaked in a blanket, and 'presented' a gun to police, prompting multiple officers from the special operations group to open fire.
Bush stated that Freeman was given every opportunity to resolve the situation peacefully but did not take that option. He added that police had been at the scene for about 24 hours and spotted no other people at the site. The families of the slain officers, Det Sen Const Neal Thompson and Sen Const Vadim de Waart-Hottart, were informed first.
The death brings closure to the families and the police force, which conducted the largest manhunt in state history. However, questions remain about how the tragedy occurred, how Freeman evaded police for so long, and whether he had help. Police will investigate if Freeman still had weapons taken from the officers he killed and who assisted him during his time on the run.
Freeman had been the subject of widespread speculation, with theories that he had fled interstate or overseas, had a well-stocked bunker, or had killed himself shortly after the shootings. The truth proved otherwise, as he was found and killed after a prolonged manhunt.
