Australian police have shot and killed Dezi Freeman after the double-murderer spent seven months on the run. A well-known conspiracy theorist, Freeman gunned down two police officers on his property in the small Victorian town of Porepunkah last August, before fleeing into dense bushland and evading extensive searches.
Victoria Police say a man was shot dead after an hours-long standoff at a rural property in the state's north-east on Monday morning. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that the man is believed to be Freeman, 56, but formal identification is still underway. Today an evil man is dead, said Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. It's over.
Police surrounded a building on a rural property around 5:30 AM local time. After three hours and multiple police pleas, a man believed to be Freeman exited the premises and was subsequently shot dead. It remains unclear what prompted his departure, but Bush mentioned Freeman may have emerged armed with a gun, possibly taken from one of the slain officers.
Freeman, whose real name was Desmond Filby, was a self-described sovereign citizen, part of an anti-government movement that rejects authority and laws. Locals described him as having lived with his family near Porepunkah, and after the double murder, police shut down the area, offering a A$1 million reward for information on his whereabouts.
Last month, authorities indicated they believed Freeman was likely deceased, yet maintained an open investigation. Bush indicated that there was substantial evidence suggesting Freeman may have taken his own life during his time on the run, though details were not disclosed on how police located him.
Freeman had a significant history of conflict with authorities, which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. His extremist beliefs saw him publicly denounce police and attempt legal actions against government officials.
The deaths of officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart during a warrant execution last August have left a lasting impact on the community and raised discussions about the dangers posed by anti-government groups. The Police Association of Victoria acknowledged Freeman's death as a crucial step but noted it does not erase the trauma felt by the community.
Victoria Police say a man was shot dead after an hours-long standoff at a rural property in the state's north-east on Monday morning. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush stated that the man is believed to be Freeman, 56, but formal identification is still underway. Today an evil man is dead, said Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. It's over.
Police surrounded a building on a rural property around 5:30 AM local time. After three hours and multiple police pleas, a man believed to be Freeman exited the premises and was subsequently shot dead. It remains unclear what prompted his departure, but Bush mentioned Freeman may have emerged armed with a gun, possibly taken from one of the slain officers.
Freeman, whose real name was Desmond Filby, was a self-described sovereign citizen, part of an anti-government movement that rejects authority and laws. Locals described him as having lived with his family near Porepunkah, and after the double murder, police shut down the area, offering a A$1 million reward for information on his whereabouts.
Last month, authorities indicated they believed Freeman was likely deceased, yet maintained an open investigation. Bush indicated that there was substantial evidence suggesting Freeman may have taken his own life during his time on the run, though details were not disclosed on how police located him.
Freeman had a significant history of conflict with authorities, which intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. His extremist beliefs saw him publicly denounce police and attempt legal actions against government officials.
The deaths of officers Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart during a warrant execution last August have left a lasting impact on the community and raised discussions about the dangers posed by anti-government groups. The Police Association of Victoria acknowledged Freeman's death as a crucial step but noted it does not erase the trauma felt by the community.
