<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-shooting-live-updates-latest-news-headlines-august-27/5ee3d7e6-9199-4943-b773-97824e918a23" rel="" target="_blank" title="An accused gunman who killed two police officers"><span>An accused gunman who killed two police officers</span></a><span> and injured a third remains on the run nearly 24 hours after the deadly shooting in rural Victoria.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A manhunt for alleged offender </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="Dezi Freeman"><span>Dezi Freeman</span></a><span> continues today after the operation plunged the entire town of Porepunkah into lockdown yesterday morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman allegedly fled into the bush after gunning down two police officers who had attended his property to execute a warrant.</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 UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-victoria-police-shooting-live-updates-latest-news-headlines-august-27/5ee3d7e6-9199-4943-b773-97824e918a23" target="_blank"><strong><span>Police search rural Victoria for alleged cop killer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The situation remains "active" and police have warned residents to stay alert and listen to advice as hundreds of officers comb Porepunkah for the accused cop killer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have admitted Freeman, who lives on the semi-rural property in Porepunkah where the shooting took place, knows the area "better than us".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria's Chief Police Commissioner Mike Bush said Freeman had a superior knowledge of the local area, but emphasised "expert" police resources were pouring in to help find him.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-police-shooting-update/4c43bcf8-5d9d-4e79-8d74-407ea1ca4ab2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He knows that area. Even though we have experts in the area, he will know that area better than us," Bush said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Asked if it was possible Freeman had laid traps for searchers, or had resorted to a hypothetical bunker, Bush said "anything's possible".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our people are used to those sorts of interventions and are well briefed," he said.</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/donald-trump-australia-google-meta-facebook-government/ea7bbf82-2eee-40f5-9ae5-60f124c12d59" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australia put on notice by Donald Trump's latest tech tariff threat</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He urged people not to help Freeman lay low in the area.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Don't support this person. It's very dangerous," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He's killed two police officers and injured a third. He does not deserve anyone's assistance."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have also warned Freeman could be armed with "several" firearms.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We believe he has longarms, powerful firearms, multiple firearms," Bush said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He refused to comment on reports that Freeman had taken a fallen officer's gun.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Freeman's family presented to police overnight and have been confirmed as safe.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We understood where they were and we invited his partner to a police station where we've spoken to her," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think the partner did go willingly to the police station to meet with us."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police also met with the couple's children to confirm their safety.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Locals in Porepunkah have still been told to stay inside and "be vigilant".</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/what-is-a-sovereign-citizen-movement-beliefs-explainer/968ac369-a7bd-4a6d-9465-7bc2a1d13bdf" target="_blank"><strong><span>What is the 'sovereign citizen' movement?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bush repeated the message from police for locals not to go outside unless it was absolutely necessary.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Alpine Shire Council, which includes Porepunkah in its LGA, has announced that council facilities will stay closed today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The identities of the officers killed in the shooting have not yet been shared but are expected to be released this afternoon once family members have been contacted.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan said she intended today to speak to the families of the two police officers killed in the Porepunkah shooting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The focus since that just tragic event of yesterday has been to ensure that the work has gone into supporting the families, contacting next of kin," she told </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>.</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/labor-5-per-cent-home-deposit-scheme-how-does-it-work-everything-to-know-explained/58bf83ab-e324-4a4b-bae1-220b1cc83933" target="_blank"><strong><span>How Labor's fast-tracked 5 per cent deposit Home Guarantee Scheme will actually work</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Who is Dezi Freeman?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The accused gunman on the run has been identified as </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="" title='"sovereign citizen" Dezi Freeman'><span>Dezi Freeman</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He is a self-described "sovereign citizen" who is known to police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to the Australian Federal Police, a sovereign citizen – also known as a SovCit – seeks to "disassociate from society and refuses to engage with societal requirements like paying tax".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bush yesterday said Freeman had been living on the property in Porepunkah which had an "adjoining bus".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><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="Freeman was earlier revealed to have referred to police"><span>Freeman was earlier revealed to have referred to police</span></a><span> 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>He tried to take a police officer and the County Court of Victoria to the Supreme Court of Victoria in November 2024 to fight driving offences.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In another brush with the legal system, Freeman tried to "arrest" a magistrate and several police officers while appearing in Wangaratta Magistrates Court.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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