Cop-Killer Dezi Freeman Shot Dead by Police After Seven-Month Manhunt

Thologolong, Victoria – March 30, 2026

A man believed to be Dezi Freeman, the fugitive wanted for the cold-blooded murder of two Victoria Police officers, was fatally shot by police this morning during a dramatic operation in northeast Victoria.

Victoria Police confirmed a man was killed in a shootout at a rural property in Thologolong, near Walwa, shortly after 8:30am. No officers were injured. While formal identification is still pending, multiple sources and police statements indicate the deceased is Desmond “Dezi” Freeman (also known as Desmond Filby), the 56-year-old self-proclaimed sovereign citizen who had evaded capture for 216 days.

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Police Commissioner Mike Bush addressed the media cautiously: “Whilst it’s been reported that the person is Dezi Freeman, we have to run through a very formal identification process. Victoria Police at this stage will not confirm the identity until that process has been undertaken.”

He added that, should the identity be confirmed, “this brings closure to what was a tragic and terrible event.” The families of the slain officers and all members involved in the original incident were the first to be informed.

The Deadly Ambush: August 26, 2025

The manhunt began on August 26, 2025, when police attended a property at Porepunkah in Victoria’s high country to execute a search warrant linked to historic sexual offences and child abuse allegations.

Ten officers, including members of the sexual offences and child abuse investigation team, arrived at the remote Four Gully Farm. Freeman, inside a bus with his wife and young child, allegedly became aggressive. As officers tried to gain entry, he opened fire in a sudden ambush.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were shot dead at the scene. A third officer was seriously injured. Freeman, armed with guns, fled into dense bushland near Mount Buffalo National Park as police pursued him.

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The two fallen officers were remembered as dedicated professionals serving their community. Their deaths sent shockwaves through Victoria Police and the wider public.

The Long Manhunt

Over the following seven months, Operation Summit became one of the largest manhunts in Victorian history. Police received more than 2,000 pieces of information from the public. A $1 million reward was offered for information leading to Freeman’s arrest.

Extensive searches focused on the rugged alpine terrain around Porepunkah, with hundreds of officers from Victoria, interstate, and even New Zealand involved. Freeman, known for his extreme anti-authority views and links to the sovereign citizen movement, appeared to vanish into the bush.

Despite occasional reported sightings and conspiracy theories circulating online, he remained at large until today.

Final Moments: The Shootout in Thologolong

This morning, acting on a credible tip-off, heavily armed police attended a rural property. A standoff ensued, reportedly lasting several hours. Freeman was believed to have been hiding in a shipping container on the site.

Sources say a shootout broke out when he failed to surrender. Police returned fire, fatally wounding the man. He was found inside or near the container. The State Coroner has attended the scene, and Professional Standards Command will oversee the investigation, as is standard for all police shootings.

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A “Step Forward” for Police and Families

The Police Association Victoria described Freeman’s death as “a step forward” rather than full closure.

“Our members said they would find him. They did,” the statement read. “This represents a step forward for our members, for the families of our fallen members and for the community. It doesn’t lessen the trauma, give back the futures that were callously stolen or lessen the collective fear and grief.”

Commissioner Bush emphasised that the first notifications went to the families of the officers killed on August 26.

What Happens Next

Formal identification is underway. The coronial investigation will examine the circumstances of today’s shooting in detail. Police have indicated further information will be released as the situation develops.

For the families of Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, and for the broader policing community, today marks the end of a painful chapter — though the grief remains raw.

Freeman’s death brings to a close a seven-month saga that began with a routine warrant and ended in a remote shipping container on a quiet property in northeast Victoria.

thetimes.com

Australian fugitive Dezi Freeman ‘shot dead’ after seven-month manhunt