A fatal shooting that police believe ended the hunt for Dezi Freeman followed a three-hour standoff at a rural property in Victoria's north-east on Monday morning. The shooting took place just after 8.30am, more than seven months after Freeman allegedly killed police officers in Porepunkah.
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said "everything I know at this point tells me that this shooting was justified", while acknowledging a coroner's hearing will be held into the matter. Bush indicated the man did not take an opportunity to surrender peacefully and police "strongly believe" he was armed. Police have not yet determined when Freeman moved from the Porepunkah area to the location where he was found in a structure described as a cross between a shipping container and a long caravan.
The standoff capped an extraordinary manhunt. On August 26, officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart were killed at a property near Porepunkah while attempting to execute a warrant, and a third officer was injured. Police made an appeal for the person inside the property to come out, commencing the standoff early Monday morning.
A manhunt involving hundreds of police officers ensued, with Victoria Police supported by interstate police forces, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Defence Force. The search involved 450 Victoria Police officers, Australian Defence Force members, and officers from other states using heat detecting assets and other technology. A $1 million reward for information leading to Freeman's arrest was the largest ever offered in Victorian history.
The search presented immense challenges. The shootings occurred in the foothills of Mount Buffalo, a rugged alpine region with dense bushland containing many natural caves, disused mineshafts and potential hideouts. In February 2026, Victoria Police announced that investigators did not believe Freeman was alive, yet a five-day search with over 100 police and volunteers including cadaver dogs failed to locate Freeman or any of his weapons.
Bush said those involved in Monday's operation showed "textbook professionalism". No police officers were injured during the operation. A professional standards command and coroner's investigation will be undertaken into the matter.
The operation's conclusion carries broader implications for law enforcement. Bush said he was "very keen" to determine if anyone had assisted Freeman in staying hidden, saying "if anyone was complicit, they will be held to account". The formal identification of the deceased remains pending.