A fugitive suspected of killing two police officers has been shot dead by officers in Victoria, Australia, following a seven-month manhunt, according to Victoria Police.
Police said a man believed to be Dezi Freeman, 56, was killed after an hours-long standoff at a rural property in the state’s north-east at around 05:30 local time on Monday.
The operation comes after Freeman allegedly shot dead two senior constables, Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart, at his property in Porepunkah in August 2025 before fleeing into bushland.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said officers surrounded a structure on the property and attempted to negotiate with the suspect for several hours.
He told reporters the man emerged armed with a firearm and was shot dead after failing to surrender. Formal identification is still ongoing.
This follows an extensive search involving specialist teams, cadaver dogs and a A$1m reward, with police previously saying they strongly believed Freeman may have died in the wilderness.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the incident marked the end of a prolonged and serious threat, adding that the deaths of the officers had deeply impacted the state.
Police said no officers were injured during the operation, which will now be subject to a standard independent investigation.
Detectives are also investigating whether Freeman received assistance while on the run.
Freeman, whose real name was Desmond Filby, had previously been linked to anti-government “sovereign citizen” beliefs, according to police and court records.
BPI News previously reported on the August 2025 shooting in Porepunkah, which triggered a large-scale police response and ongoing search operation.
Investigations are continuing.