Australian police have shot and killed Dezi Freeman after the double-murderer spent seven months on the run. A well-known conspiracy theorist, Freeman allegedly gunned down two police officers on his property in the small Victorian town of Porepunkah last August, before fleeing into dense bushland and evading extensive searches.
Victoria Police confirmed that a man was shot dead following an hours-long standoff at a rural property in the state's north-east on Monday morning. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated the man is believed to be Freeman, 56, but formal identification is still underway.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan remarked, Today an evil man is dead. It's over. The police surrounded a building—described as a cross between a shipping container and a long caravan—around 5:30 local time.
After three hours of negotiations, a man believed to be Freeman emerged and was shot dead. It is reported that he was wrapped in a blanket and possibly armed with a gun taken from one of the slain officers in August. Our ultimate goal was to arrest the person, Bush stated, noting that Freeman had the opportunity to surrender peacefully but chose not to.
No officers were hurt during this operation, which is standard protocol for investigations into police shootings. Investigators believe Freeman may have received assistance while on the run, and detectives are now focusing on identifying any accomplices.
In a statement, the Police Association of Victoria referred to Freeman's death as a step forward but emphasized it does not provide closure for the trauma faced by officers and the community. Freeman's actions and the recent shooting have revived discussions about how Australia addresses increasing factions of anti-government conspiracy theorists.
Victoria Police confirmed that a man was shot dead following an hours-long standoff at a rural property in the state's north-east on Monday morning. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated the man is believed to be Freeman, 56, but formal identification is still underway.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan remarked, Today an evil man is dead. It's over. The police surrounded a building—described as a cross between a shipping container and a long caravan—around 5:30 local time.
After three hours of negotiations, a man believed to be Freeman emerged and was shot dead. It is reported that he was wrapped in a blanket and possibly armed with a gun taken from one of the slain officers in August. Our ultimate goal was to arrest the person, Bush stated, noting that Freeman had the opportunity to surrender peacefully but chose not to.
No officers were hurt during this operation, which is standard protocol for investigations into police shootings. Investigators believe Freeman may have received assistance while on the run, and detectives are now focusing on identifying any accomplices.
In a statement, the Police Association of Victoria referred to Freeman's death as a step forward but emphasized it does not provide closure for the trauma faced by officers and the community. Freeman's actions and the recent shooting have revived discussions about how Australia addresses increasing factions of anti-government conspiracy theorists.
