An Australian fugitive, Dezi Freeman, has been shot dead by police after spending seven months on the run.
Freeman, known for promoting conspiracy theories, had been wanted since August last year, when he fatally shot two police officers at his property in Porepunkah, a small town in the state of Victoria. He then fled into dense bushland, evading a large-scale manhunt.
Victoria Police said a man was killed following a prolonged standoff at a rural property in the state’s north-east on Monday morning. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that the individual is believed to be Freeman, although formal identification is still being completed.
“Should [his identity] be confirmed… this brings closure to what was a tragic and terrible event.”
According to police, the 56-year-old emerged from a structure described as resembling a hybrid between a container and a long caravan shortly after 08:30 local time. He was reportedly armed and wrapped in a blanket when officers confronted him.
“Our ultimate goal was to arrest the person,” Bush said.
“There was an opportunity for him to surrender peacefully but he did not.”
Authorities confirmed that no officers were injured during the operation. As per standard procedure, the shooting will be subject to an independent investigation.
Freeman had been the subject of a police operation on 26 August, when officers attended his property as part of an investigation into alleged sex offences. During that visit, two senior constables — Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart — were shot and killed.
Bush said the families of the two officers were informed of Freeman’s death before the public announcement. He added that it may take between 24 and 48 hours to formally confirm the identity of the deceased.
Investigators will now turn their attention to determining whether Freeman received assistance while evading authorities.
“It would be very difficult for him to get to where he was… without assistance,” Bush said. “If anyone was complicit, they will be held accountable.”
In a statement released on Monday, the Police Association of Victoria described Freeman’s death as a “step forward”.
“Closure isn’t the right word,” the statement said, adding that it “doesn’t lessen the trauma” of the two police officers’ deaths.
Freeman, whose real name was Desmond Filby, identified as a “sovereign citizen”, a movement that rejects government authority and legal systems.
Residents of Porepunkah, an alpine tourist town near Mount Buffalo, said Freeman lived on the property with his wife and two children.
Following the killings, police launched an extensive search effort, offering a reward of A$1 million and combing rugged terrain filled with caves and abandoned mineshafts. Freeman was believed to possess strong bush survival skills.
Last month, authorities intensified their efforts, deploying cadaver dogs and stating they “strongly” believed Freeman was already dead.
Bush said on Monday that there had been “a lot to suggest that Freeman had taken his own life”, although investigators had continued to pursue all possibilities. He declined to disclose details about how police located him.
Freeman had a documented history of conflict with authorities. His anti-government views were widely shared through online posts, videos and court filings.
Locals told media his beliefs became more extreme during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in response to strict public health measures in Victoria.
He had previously referred to police as “terrorist thugs”, attempted to arrest a magistrate during court proceedings, and in 2021 sought to have then-Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews charged with treason — a case that was ultimately dismissed.
Police had anticipated a potentially dangerous situation when they first attended Freeman’s property in August. However, after conducting a risk assessment, they did not request specialist units and instead deployed a team of ten officers.
Among them was Neal Thompson, a local detective nearing retirement, who had prior interactions with Freeman and was believed to have established some level of rapport with him, according to local media reports.
Within minutes of arriving, Thompson and his colleague Vadim de Waart were shot dead.
Thompson’s partner, also a police officer, described him as the “best husband she’d never had”. Friends and family remembered De Waart, originally from Belgium, as cheerful and warm, known for making others laugh.
The killings reignited concerns over how Australia handles anti-government extremist groups. Federal police have previously warned that such movements carry an “underlying capacity to inspire violence”.
In 2022, two officers and a civilian were killed in Queensland by individuals linked to similar anti-authority ideologies.
Helen Haines, the local MP for the area, said the community had been overshadowed by the tragedy since last August, adding that Freeman’s death “draws this prolonged and devastating incident to a close”.
A close friend of Thompson also welcomed the development.
“It’s a good day,” John Bird told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, adding it ultimately “doesn’t change much” but brought some closure.
