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Fugitive Killed: 7-Month Manhunt Ends
30 Mar
Summary
- Fugitive shot dead by police after seven months on the run.
- He allegedly killed two officers in August before fleeing.
- A$1m reward was offered for information leading to his capture.
Australian fugitive Dezi Freeman, 56, was fatally shot by police in north-east Victoria on Monday, concluding a manhunt that began seven months ago. Freeman was accused of fatally shooting two police officers, Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart, on August 26. The officers had visited his Porepunkah property with a search warrant as part of a child sex abuse investigation.
Following the alleged murders, Freeman fled into dense bushland, triggering an extensive, multi-team search operation. Authorities eventually offered a record A$1m reward for information leading to his capture. Freeman, who used the name Desmond Filby, was identified as a "sovereign citizen" and a conspiracy theorist.
Monday's shooting occurred shortly after 08:30 local time at a rural property during efforts to apprehend Freeman. No police officers were injured during this final confrontation. The state coroner is expected to attend the scene, and a standard investigation into the police shooting will be launched.
