<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-live-updates-porepunkah-police-shootings-latest-news-headlines/c81f2d34-62f7-4fa2-b516-801af339aed3" rel="" target="" title="Dezi Freeman's"><span>Dezi Freeman's</span></a><span> close friends says he believed the fugitive was dead months before news emerged he had been shot outside a shipping container hideout near the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span> border this morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman was shot dead by special operations police at a remote property near Walwa about 8.30am after he emerged wearing a blanket and brandishing a stolen gun.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fugitive's close friend Bruce Evans said he had not heard from the double police killer since he escaped into dense bushland after shooting dead two police officers in the Victorian high country on August 26.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: '</span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-son-condemns-celebrations/dab054d9-f2ee-460e-8daf-cf624fc1e5e3" rel="" target="" title="That's still my father': Dezi Freeman's son slams 'disgusting' comments celebrating cop killer's death"><strong><span>That's still my father': Dezi Freeman's son slams 'disgusting' comments celebrating cop killer's death</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Evans told 9News he had speculated whether Freeman had been killed "on day one" by police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a very sad for all of the family, not a good day," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I thought he was actually dead to be honest, but obviously I was wrong.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-update-close-friend-says-he-thought-fugitive-had-died-seven-months-ago/87325bad-460c-4fac-ba27-41ba8ce555fe" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He was facing life imprisonment or going out in a blaze of glory I suppose, and he chose the latter by the sounds of it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Evans said he did not condone Freeman's actions in Porepunkah but believed the fugitive was "pretty fearless" and was not shocked his fate was sealed in another shooting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not surprising to me that it went down this way in the end," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He's not the sort of guy that backs down, you know."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush earlier today said officers "acted appropriately" during today's police operation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Everything I have seen, everything I have been briefed on, tells me that our officers acted appropriately," Bush said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's quite clear to us now that the deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully and did not take that option.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have seen video of the deceased leaving the building and presenting a firearm at our officers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That action took away any discretion our officers had to resolve this peacefully."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Evans said he was not surprised by reports police were led to Freeman's hideout by a tip-off from one of the self-described sovereign citizen's associates.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You dangle a million dollars in front of people and there's going to be a lot of people that take that sort of money," Evans said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You couldn't hide forever. It's always going to get out somehow."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>