Fugitive Shot Dead By American Police After Seven Month Manhunt
A seven month manhunt across rural Australia has come to an end after police shot dead a man who is believed to be fugitive Dezi Freeman, who had been on the run since allegedly killing two officers last year.
The 56-year-old, a self-described “sovereign citizen”, disappeared into bushland in Victoria after the fatal shooting of two police officers in August. Authorities spent months tracking him through rugged terrain, following thousands of leads in what became one of the country’s largest search operations.
Police say the man was found at a remote property in the north-east of Victoria on Monday morning. Officers surrounded a makeshift structure before a standoff that lasted several hours.
According to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush, the situation ended when the man came out and presented a firearm. “There was an opportunity for him to surrender peacefully but he did not,” Bush said. He added: “The deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully, and did not take that option.”
Officers then opened fire. No police officers were injured during the incident.
Authorities believe the man is Freeman, though formal identification is still ongoing. Bush said the outcome would likely bring “closure to what was a tragic and terrible event” for the families of the two officers killed.
The case has weighed heavily on the local community in Porepunkah, where the initial shooting took place. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said: "Today an evil man is dead," before adding, "It's over."
Freeman, also known as Desmond Filby, had a long history of anti-government views and was linked to the “sovereign citizen” movement, which rejects laws and state authority. His beliefs had been widely shared online, and he has previously had other confrontations with police and the courts.
The search effort involved hundreds of officers, specialist teams, and support from across Australia and New Zealand. Investigators combed through dense bushland, caves, and remote areas, and at times believed that Freeman may have died while in hiding.
Police are now focusing on how he managed to evade capture for so long. Bush said it would have been difficult for Freeman to survive without help, adding: “I’m sure some actually assisted him in getting away from Porepunkah to where he was located.”
“If anyone was complicit, they will be held to account,” he said.
The shooting will be reviewed, as is standard procedure, though early indications suggest that the officers acted within the law.
While some have described the outcome as a turning point, police groups say that it does not erase the impact of the original attack. The Police Association of Victoria said the development “represents a step forward” but stressed that it cannot undo the loss of the two officers or the trauma that their deaths caused.
