Freeman was hiding out in Thologolong

Police have confirmed Freeman was hiding at a rural property in Thologolong, a tiny locality in north-east Victoria.

Thologolong is located on the edge of the Murray River, close to the Victoria-NSW border.

A look at Freeman’s hiding place

By April Glover

Nine’s exclusive aerial footage of Freeman’s caravan bunker shows how the fugitive lived in the days before the fatal shooting.

Freeman was hiding out in a makeshift caravan-cross-shipping container on a rural property in Thologolong, located in Victoria’s north east.

Footage shows a large white container equipped with an awning and deck chairs.

Similar containers and vehicles are also seen on the property.


Freeman reportedly armed with gun stolen from slain officer

By April Glover

Freeman was armed with a gun he had stolen from one of the slain police officers, 9News understands.

It is believed the fugitive confronted officers with a police firearm he took on August 26, but whether the gun discharged remains unknown.

‘Number of police’ fired at Freeman

By April Glover

Police believe multiple officers opened fire at Freeman when he was fatally shot early today.

Freeman was armed and an investigation into whether he fired at police is now under way.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined, however it’s understood a number of police discharged their firearms,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

Porepunkah never gave up hope

By April Glover

It took police seven long months to find Dezi Freeman, but the Porpeunkah community’s faith in the search efforts never wavered.

Marcus Warner, owner of Pepo Farms and president of the Bright and District Chamber of Commerce, said the tragic deaths of Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart have cast a long shadow of grief across the town.

“I don’t believe anyone ever gave up. We’ve always had a reasonably strong police presence here, it’s always been in the forefront of our minds that they were still actively looking for him,’ Warner told nine.com.au.

“We’re a major tourist town, we’ve had daily reminders… visitors talking about it, speculating.”

Warner said a weight has been lifted from community members and business owners, but there is still a lot to process.

“We’re still suffering emotionally, psychologically,” Warner added.

“There are still businesses that are trying to financially recover. It’s not over completely, but it’s a huge weight lifted off our shoulders today.”

Here’s what we know so far

By April Glover

Double police killer Dezi Freeman has been fatally shot by police today, bringing a dramatic end to the seven-month-long manhunt in Victoria.

The three-hour operation ended in gunfire about 8.30am.

Police swooped on Freeman at a rural property in Walwa in north east Victoria after surveilling him and spending days attempting to coax him out of his hiding place.

The fugitive had been living in a container-style caravan at the time.

It is believed Freeman was armed and opened fire at officers.

No police officers were injured in the operation.

Freeman’s body is yet to be formally identified.

Police remain on the scene and a major investigation now is under way.

Investigators are now looking into the possibility that one or more community members assisted Freeman, who evaded capture for more than 200 days.

Police have earned praise for the “textbook” operation, which ended in fatal gunfire despite officers giving Freeman an opportunity to surrender peacefully.

More information regarding Freeman’s death and the investigation will be shared at 5pm (AEDT) when police will hold another press conference.

Police spent days coaxing Freeman out of hiding place

By April Glover

Freeman had been given the opportunity to surrender before he was fatally shot, police said.

Officers had been at the property in north-east Victoria for several days trying to coax the fugitive out of his hiding place.

“He… exited the building, there was an opportunity for him to surrender peacefully, which he did not,” Bush said.

The operation this morning began around 5.30am and ended at 8.30am when police opened fire.

‘Dark cloud’ over Porepunkah has lifted

By April Glover

Victorian MP Helen Haines said today’s shooting has helped lift a “dark cloud” that was hanging over Porepunkah.

The member for Indi, whose electorate includes the state’s alpine region, said Freeman’s death “draws this prolonged and devastating incident to a close”.

“This will come as a relief to the whole community – especially to the families of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-[Hottart] and their colleagues,” Haines said in a statement.

“I thank Victoria Police, and all those involved in the search for their determination and service.”