End of Manhunt
Australian police shot and killed Desmond Freeman, a fugitive wanted in connection to the deaths of two officers, ending a seven-month manhunt. The incident occurred after a three-hour standoff at a rural property in Victoria. The property was located in the Walwa area of rural Victoria.
The Fatal Shooting
Police tracked Freeman to a caravan parked on a "very remote" property in rural Victoria. According to Police Commissioner Mike Bush, Freeman refused pleas to surrender. Bush told reporters that "everything I know at this point tells me that this shooting was justified."
Freeman's Background
Freeman, 56, also known as "Dezi," fled into dense bushland in August 2025 after shooting and killing detective Neal Thompson, 59, and senior constable Vadim De Waart, 35. The shooting occurred when officers came to search his rural home in Porepunkah, about 186 miles northeast of Melbourne. A third officer was wounded in the lower body. The search warrant was being executed as part of an investigation by the Wangaratta Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team.
The Search
Hundreds of police pursued Freeman through rugged terrain. At one point, around 450 officers were involved in the search. The manhunt was one of the "most significantly resourced police operations" in Australian history, according to Bush. Police believed Freeman may have evaded capture with the help of locals sympathetic to his anti-authority views. Authorities offered a AU$1 million ($685,000) reward for information leading to his arrest.
Reactions to Freeman's Death
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said, "Today an evil man is dead. It's over." The Police Association of Victoria stated Freeman's death was a "step forward." However, it added that 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."
Sovereign Citizen
Freeman was described as a conspiracy theorist and member of the "sovereign citizen" movement. This movement believes it is not subject to the law. During a 2024 hearing to appeal his suspended driver's license, Freeman told a court that "even the sight of a cop or a cop car … it's like an Auschwitz survivor seeing a Nazi soldier."
Investigation Continues
The state coroner will confirm the identity of the body and cause of death. Police will investigate the shooting. Detectives will also focus on working out who gave him aid while he was on the run. Bush said, "If anyone was complicit, they will be held accountable."
