Fugitive Dezi Freeman, wanted for the murder of two police officers, has been shot dead by police after a seven-month manhunt in rural Victoria. Police commissioner Mike Bush said the shooting was justified and brought closure to the families of the slain officers.
Bush confirmed that Freeman was fatally shot shortly after 8.30am on Monday at a property in Thologolong. He had been given every opportunity to surrender peacefully, but instead presented a firearm, prompting officers from the special operations group to open fire.
While formal identification is pending, Bush stated he believed the deceased was Freeman. The shooting concluded Operation Summit, the investigation into Freeman's actions following the August murders of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart in Porepunkah.
Freeman, 56, with links to pseudolaw ideologies, had been on the run since August 26. He allegedly shot the two officers and injured a third while they were executing a search warrant. The manhunt involved resources from every Australian state and New Zealand.
Police are now investigating how Freeman came to be at the property and whether he received assistance during his time on the run. Bush said detectives would speak to everyone in the area to determine if others were complicit in aiding him.
