<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The families of two police officers allegedly shot dead by Dezi Freeman last year finally have answers after the fugitive managed to evade police for seven months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman allegedly killed the officers "in cold blood" in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/porepunkah-shooting" rel="" target="_blank" title="Porepunkah"><span>Porepunkah</span></a><span>, Victoria last August.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He then fled into bushland, kicking off a manhunt that gripped the nation – and ended this morning.</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>LIVE UPDAYES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-live-updates-porepunkah-police-shootings-latest-news-headlines/c81f2d34-62f7-4fa2-b516-801af339aed3" target="_blank"><strong><span>Dezi Freeman shot dead after seven months on the run</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman was reportedly hiding in a shipping container on a property in Thologolong when he was </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="_blank" title="shot dead by heavily-armed police"><span>shot dead by heavily-armed police</span></a><span> today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His death brings the manhunt to an end, but the story of the Porepunkah shooting and the lives it changed forever isn't over yet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Especially not for the families of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-police-shooting-victims-identified/fa941b5e-76f9-49a4-a4eb-78468b52d747" rel="" target="_blank" title="Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart"><span>Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart</span></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-update-families-of-officers-killed-have-answers/036b7e17-2903-477e-a8be-0b06875410cc" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It doesn't lessen the trauma, give back the futures that were callously stolen or lessen the collective fear and grief that this tragic event has instilled in police and the wider public," a Police Association Victoria spokesperson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The families of Thompson and De Waart-Hottart were the first to be notified that Freeman had reportedly been shot dead by police this morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-30-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/e9266dcd-3f4a-470e-8c77-03535b5205a3" target="_blank"><strong><span>All eyes on National Cabinet to solve fuel crisis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman had several </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-police-shooting-dezi-freeman-previously-called-police-terrorist-thugs-in-fight-against-driving-fines/8ca84c17-29e5-4018-bbf2-829e5ed71978" rel="" target="_blank" title="run-ins with police"><span>run-ins with police</span></a><span> before that deadly day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A self-declared </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/what-is-a-sovereign-citizen-movement-beliefs-explainer/968ac369-a7bd-4a6d-9465-7bc2a1d13bdf" rel="" target="_blank" title='"sovereign citizen"'><span>"sovereign citizen"</span></a><span>, Freeman referred to police in court as "frigging Nazis", "Gestapo" and "terrorist thugs", a </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/courts" target="" title="court"><span>court</span></a><span> judgement shows.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On other occasions he tried to place a magistrate and several police officers "under arrest" in court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nothing could have prepared police for what unfolded on the morning of August 26.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Officers arrived at the Rayner Track property where Freeman was living to execute a search warrant on behalf of the Wangaratta Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman allegedly </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-officer-shooting-at-rural-property/fdd5dcce-fb0f-4c32-9d6a-2910db764fe7" rel="" target="_blank" title="opened fire on the officers"><span>opened fire on the officers</span></a><span>, killing Thompson and Waart-Hottart, and injuring a third officer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-shot-reports-emerge-fugitive-killed-by-armed-police/77941806-6f56-4584-a39f-f5c57263a337" target="_blank"><strong><span>Fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman shot dead by police after seven months on the run</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police returned fire but Freeman was able to escape on foot and was seen fleeing into the bush.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So began a manhunt for the alleged cop-killer, who managed to evade hundreds of police, specialist officers, volunteers and dogs for months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tensions were high the immediate aftermath of the shooting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The remote town of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-police-shooting-update-where-is-porepunkah-inside-country-town/5c46856d-b595-40f5-9969-e2039cbeac2b" rel="" target="_blank" title="Porepunkah was thrown into lockdown"><span>Porepunkah was thrown into lockdown</span></a><span>, with police urging locals to stay inside and warning outsiders to stay away.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Roadblocks were set up on the edge of town and police worked through the night in the hopes of capturing Freeman, who was believed to be armed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/free-public-transport-nsw-why-state-wont-follow-victoria-and-tasmania-in-fuel-crisis-measure/e5ea855d-3da3-4d94-a589-bb7dacf92955" target="_blank"><strong><span>Why NSW government has decided not to offer free public transport for commuters amid fuel crisis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman's partner, Amalia, and children presented themselves to local police for questioning. Amalia was later arrested.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But as the days dragged on, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-officer-shooting-people-escorted-from-home/58cb7c8b-9cc2-412b-baf9-94a6619eebe4" rel="" target="_blank" title="bringing brutal weather to the region"><span>bringing brutal weather to the region</span></a><span>, there was still no sight of Freeman.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Days turned into weeks. Weeks became </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-manhunt-hits-one-month-mark-porepunkah-victoria/b46713df-9003-4ddb-8fc7-b5b451439e5f" rel="" target="_blank" title="months"><span>months</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In September, Victoria Police announced a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-porepunkah-search-day-two-hunt-for-accused-police-killer/cfed16c8-9280-4b71-91f8-9683cb5a0d68" rel="" target="_blank" title="reward of up to $1 million"><span>reward of up to $1 million</span></a><span> for information leading to Freeman's arrest.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But as the New Year rolled in, he remained at large.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Updates were few and far between.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/apple-almost-went-broke--now-its-celebrating-50-years/0a597f3d-d703-45c4-9a75-44602dec6a8e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Apple almost went broke – now it's celebrating 50 years</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/renewed-search-for-dezi-freeman-wraps-up-without-success/d77caaa9-94f7-4910-b6b5-bb4313ede01b" rel="" target="_blank" title="multiple searches of Victorian bushland"><span>multiple searches of Victorian bushland</span></a><span> and properties and questioning Freeman's friends and family, police seemed no closer to locating the alleged killer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are currently exploring three scenarios: the first is that </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-search-porepunkah-shootings-police-to-search-mount-buffalo-national-park/7c2954d7-9f93-4b48-aad9-3e2c4ceaefad" rel="" target="_blank" title="Freeman is dead"><span>Freeman is dead</span></a><span>, either by self-harm or misadventure," Victoria Police Detective Inspector Adam Tilley said in February.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The second [theory] is he has been able to escape the area and is being harboured by a person or people.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And a third scenario we are exploring is that he has left the area and is on the run unassisted and he has not been located."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The following month, police confirmed </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/insufficient-evidence-to-charge-trio-connected-to-dezi-freeman-case-police-say/972e4cb9-0491-4416-9036-d0d5e7423ee5" rel="" target="_blank" title="charges would not be laid against Freeman's wife"><span>charges would not be laid against Freeman's wife</span></a><span> and two other people who were probed over the deadly Porepunkah shooting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/national-cabinet-meeting-to-address-fuel-crisis-australia-government-response/5fed10a8-4f39-4460-9535-85ca07b51bef" target="_blank"><strong><span>Federal government to avoid 'harsher measures and restrictions' ahead of national cabinet meeting to address Australia's fuel crisis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Little did the rest of Australia know, Freeman was very much alive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was reportedly hiding out in a makeshift caravan-cross-shipping container on a rural property in Thologolong, located in Victoria's north east.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That's where police found and attempted to negotiate with the fugitive, sparking a three-hour standoff this morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman emerged from the caravan bunker wrapped in a blanket and armed with a gun he had stolen from one of the slain police officers, 9News understands.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is believed he opened fire at officers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/apple-almost-went-broke--now-its-celebrating-50-years/0a597f3d-d703-45c4-9a75-44602dec6a8e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Apple almost went broke – now it's celebrating 50 years</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police believe multiple officers opened fire at Freeman, who was fatally shot.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>News of his death sent shockwaves around the country, making headlines on every news site in the nation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's unclear how long Freeman had been hiding in the shipping container, and how police finally found him after so many months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those details will emerge in time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said in a press conference that it's likely other individuals aided Freeman in evading police for so long.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/clyde-north-man-fighting-for-life-after-alleged-hit-and-run-south-east-melbourne/d87a7008-9386-4962-ac6f-8a26230436cb" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Police search for driver after Melbourne father badly hurt in hit-and-run</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/wvZB495n2t2K5e3COHJh5ro9l58=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F03%2F763511%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I am sure some assisted him in getting away from Porepunkah to where he is located," Bush said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He added that anyone "complicit" in Freeman's hiding would face charges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bush also suggested that the public may never know if anyone collects the $1 million reward for information leading to Freeman's arrest.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Anything in relation to any reward or anything else about the investigation will be kept confidential," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said today's shooting was "justified" and the conclusion of the police operation will give closure to those affected by the Porepunkah shooting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-how-much-does-australia-have-left-explained/f266e2d2-6b91-4166-8f7e-bb424620cc09" target="_blank"><strong><span>How many days does Australia have left of fuel?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But for the police officers and families devastated by Freeman's actions on August 26, this moment – though it has been a long time coming – is not the end.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Closure isn't the right word," a Police Association Victoria spokesperson said earlier today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This represents a step forward for our members, for the families of our fallen members and for the community."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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