<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It looks almost like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seven months after he killed two police officers, Dezi Freeman emerged from a shipping container draped in a blanket. Then, police say, he drew a gun stolen from one of the men he killed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Soon after, Australia's most wanted fugitive was dead, surrounded by old cars, tractors and tell-tale signs of how he might have been surviving in a part of Victoria that's as beautiful as it is remote.</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-update-everything-we-know-questions-explained/43f1f025-96c6-4ab5-8de3-ac9cdb91a3fc"><strong><span>Dezi Freeman's death leaves questions answered: How did he survive?</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The physical operation began at 5.30am yesterday when specialist police swarmed the container, sparking a tense standoff. It ended three hours later when the police BearCat rammed the box as flash bangs and smoke grenades were dropped inside.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the investigation had been ongoing for months before a breakthrough.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9News understands officers had their eye on the Thologolong property for several days following a tip-off from someone close to Freeman wanting the $1 million reward. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/dezi-freeman-update-inside-the-police-operation-that-killed-wanted-fugitive/8fd50030-4e87-4358-a6cb-7345a052f96a" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's on the NSW border near Lake Hume, closer to Canberra than Melbourne, and more than a day's walk from Porepunkah through sparsely populated terrain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Friends who've spoken publicly since his death agree with police on one thing.</span></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/world/us-israel-iran-war-update-donald-trump-issues-new-threat-to-irans-civilian-infrastructure-if-a-ceasefire-isnt-reached-shortly/f19f84a7-f188-4e3c-abb6-82a98c943f27"><strong><span>Trump threatens to wipe out critical Iranian island if deal isn't reached 'shortly'</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He couldn't have done all this on his own. He must have been being assisted by someone else," friend Alex Kristic said, adding "quite frankly I'm glad this guy's dead".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bush said he was "very keen to learn who".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm sure some actually assisted him in getting away from Porepunkah to where he was located," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The property where Freeman made his last stand was littered with rubbish. Cars, tractors, three caravans, even a boat and a canoe, marked the green grass between three scattered shipping containers of different sizes and colours. </span></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-update-close-friend-says-he-thought-fugitive-had-died-seven-months-ago/87325bad-460c-4fac-ba27-41ba8ce555fe"><strong><span>Dezi Freeman's friend says he thought fugitive had died seven months ago</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The self-proclaimed sovereign citizen had been living off-grid, solar panels producing what little electricity the property had.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It featured a makeshift kitchen and two chairs side by side, suggesting he had not always been alone. But Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said there was no sign of anyone else there in the 24 hours before.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At 8.30am, Freeman emerged from the shipping container almost naked, wrapped in a blanket and armed with a gun he stole from the slain officers in August.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This time, police took no chances, shooting him dead.</span></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-live-updates-porepunkah-police-shootings-latest-news-headlines/c81f2d34-62f7-4fa2-b516-801af339aed3"><strong><span>Details of fugitive Dezi Freeman's final hours revealed</span></strong></a><strong></strong></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," Bush said.</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."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Neil Sutherland says his brother, who's been in Tasmania for four months, owns the property but has never met Freeman.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He's in shock," Sutherland said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Actually, he's in more shock than I am because it's obviously - it's his property."</span></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-update-families-of-officers-killed-have-answers/036b7e17-2903-477e-a8be-0b06875410cc"><strong><span>Families of officers Dezi Freeman allegedly killed finally have answers</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bush yesterday afternoon said police were still trying to find and speak with the owner.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three weeks ago, police announced they would not charge Freeman's wife, Mali, with obstruction of police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She was present at the time of the shooting, along with a man connected to the Porepunkah property.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's very important for us to understand how long he's been here and who else was complicit in getting him here and then caring for him or providing him with food and other things to this point," Bush said, promising they would be "held to account".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><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><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" 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" rel="" 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" rel="" 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" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>