VIC. — Fugitive Dezi Freeman has reportedly been shot dead by police after more than six months on the run following the killing of two officers. ABC News reporters, not police, have confirmed that the suspect shot by police is Dezi Freeman.
Victoria Police confirmed a man was killed at a rural address in Victoria’s northeast shortly after 8.30am on Monday as part of the operation to locate Freeman.
He was wanted over the fatal shootings of police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were among a team of officers serving a warrant at Freeman’s home in the small northeast Victorian town of Porepunkah in late August.
Victoria Police said no police officers were injured during the incident on Monday.
ABC Radio Melbourne (3LO) reported on the 10am news that Freeman was the man killed and “police would provide further information in an hour.”
“The state coroner will attend the scene and the investigation will be oversighted by Professional Standards Command, as per standard process for a police shooting,” a spokesperson said.
“Further information will be released today as the situation develops.”
Victorian government minister Sonya Kilkenny said it was a “developing situation”.
“The main thing is that our thoughts, our concerns and our support are with the Porepunkah community and, of course, the families of the two police officers killed in that tragic incident almost six months ago,” she said.
Reports say he was found at a property, where he was believed to have been in a shipping container when police confronted him. If that proves accurate, the obvious question is not just how he stayed alive for so long, but who was helping him do it.
Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, had not been seen since fleeing into bushland near his home shortly after the shooting.
Detective Senior Constable Thompson, 59, was just a week away from retiring, while Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart, 34, was on temporary assignment to the area.
More to come. This report is being updated live.
LAST UPDATED: 10:45am
FIRST PUBLISHED: 10:12am
