The gunman who opened fire on two law enforcement officers and seriously wounded a third in rural south-eastern Australia has been identified. The operation to arrest him is continuing for a second day.
Desi Freeman, 56, has an arsenal of weapons and survival skills in the wild, Victoria Police Chief Mike Bush told reporters.
Residents of the region are strongly advised not to leave their homes.
The incident occurred on Tuesday as 10 armed officers attempted to search Freeman's home in Porepunkah, a town of just over 1,000 residents 320km north-east of Melbourne.
The suspect killed a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior officer, a law enforcement official said. Another investigator was shot but is in stable condition.
The police chief noted that the officers “encountered a criminal and became victims of a cold-blooded murder.”
The man fled alone, carrying a weapon, into a nearby forest, where an intensive search for him continued throughout the night and into Wednesday.
Bush declined to comment on the basis for the search warrant and stressed that it was “premature to draw conclusions” about whether the attack was motivated by ideology.
However, he said that among the officers who arrived at the scene were representatives of the sexual crimes and child abuse unit.
Australian media have heavily publicised Freeman's commitment to “sovereign citizenship” ideology, citing a 2021 video from Wangaratta court in which he attempted to have a judge and police officers arrested during a hearing.
Proponents of pseudo-legal movements use discredited legal doctrines to deny state authority.
In 2024 court documents challenging Freeman's long-term license suspension, a judge noted the suspect's “history of conflict” with law enforcement, whom he called “Nazis” and “terrorist thugs” in his communications.
Bush declined to comment on how much detail Freeman's views were known before the visit to his home.
Famous for its vineyards and panoramic views, Porepunkah serves as the gateway to Victoria's alpine resort area.
On Tuesday, public facilities and the local airfield were temporarily closed, and the school's students and staff (less than 100 people) were able to leave the building after waiting for several hours.
“Remain vigilant and cautious,” Bush told the public Wednesday. “Avoid leaving your home unless absolutely necessary.”
A government spokesman admitted the suspect's experience in the wild created “additional challenges” for the police.
The whereabouts of Freeman's wife and two children initially remained unknown, but they voluntarily turned themselves in to police stations late Tuesday to give statements.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
