A heavily armed man remains on the run in dense bushland after allegedly gunning down two police officers in a “cold-blooded” ambush in rural Victoria.
The town of Porepunkah, about 300 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, spent Tuesday night in lockdown as police threw every available resource into tracking down the fugitive, identified as 56-year-old Dezi Freeman.
Police say ten officers came under fire as they attended a property on Rayner Track on Tuesday morning to execute a search warrant. A 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable were shot dead, while another detective was seriously injured and underwent emergency surgery.
“They were met by the offender, and they were murdered in cold blood,” Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said.
Freeman, described as heavily armed and dangerous, is believed to be carrying several lethal weapons. Police have deployed extensive ground and air resources to hunt him through the rugged alpine terrain.
“The public should remain inside. He is obviously a very dangerous person, and he needs to be caught, and that’s why we’ve committed every resource to do that,” Mr Bush said.
On Tuesday night, grieving residents gathered outside Wangaratta Police Station to lay flowers in tribute to the fallen officers.
Police confirmed Freeman was known to authorities and a risk assessment had been conducted prior to the search warrant being issued. His partner and children attended a police station later that evening, with investigators confirming there was no evidence they had been with him after the attack.
Premier Jacinta Allan urged Victorians to rally behind police and the Porepunkah community.
“In our toughest of times, we reach out and provide support, we provide love, we provide care and make it absolutely clear that this was a hideous criminal act and this offender will be dealt with,” she said.
Federal authorities are also monitoring the case amid concerns Freeman may be linked to the “sovereign citizen” movement. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia’s intelligence agencies had long warned about the risks of far-right extremism.
“The fact that this ideology of not seeing themselves being subject to our laws and our society … is of real concern, and ASIO have warned that this threat is very real, and that we need to be very vigilant about it,” Mr Albanese told ABC’s 7.30.
He compared the events to the 2022 Wieambilla ambush in Queensland, when two officers and a neighbour were killed by extremists who identified as sovereign citizens.
Local MP Helen Haines said the attack had shaken communities nationwide, while Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said his members had paid the “ultimate price” in the line of duty.
The shootings mark the state’s worst police tragedy since the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash, when four officers were killed after a truck struck them during a roadside operation.
Images: 7 NEWs
