Police offered a AU$1 million (~$678K USD) reward for information and are still investigating whether anyone helped Freeman evade capture for seven months. His anti-government grievances and survival expertise made him one of Australia's most wanted.
The case highlights the dangers of serving warrants on armed suspects with extremist ideologies and wilderness skills — a combination that turned a routine police visit into a deadly ambush and months-long fugitive hunt across Victoria's alpine forests.
For months, police suspected Freeman had killed himself — the wilderness search turned up nothing despite massive resources. But a break (source unclear) led tactical teams to his location. Formal ID via fingerprinting will take up to 48 hours to confirm it's him.
Massive manhunt, remote terrain, months of silence — and a violent conclusion. Two officers dead, one wounded, and a fugitive who nearly pulled off an indefinite disappearance in the bush.
Formal ID pending (fingerprints, up to 48 hours), but police are confident it's Freeman. A AU$1M reward was on the table for tips. Investigators now probing whether anyone helped him evade capture for seven months.
Special Operations Group offered surrender. Freeman refused. After three hours, police shot him. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush says they "strongly believed" he was armed, though it's unclear if Freeman fired back. The goal was peaceful arrest — it didn't end that way.
The suspect had wilderness survival skills and reportedly held "sovereign citizen" beliefs with grievances against police. That combo kept him alive in Victoria's dense alpine forests for months. Police even suspected suicide at one point — but he was still out there.
Freeman vanished after opening fire on officers serving a warrant at his Porepunkah home on Aug. 26, 2025. No confirmed sightings since — until tactical police cornered him Monday in Thologolong, two hours north. He was holed up in a shelter, possibly a shipping container.
Seven months on the run in Australia's alpine wilderness — and it ended in a three-hour standoff. Dezi Freeman, 56, allegedly killed two cops and wounded a third last August. Police just shot him dead in a remote forest, believing he'd been surviving off-grid the whole time.
5/6 🧵
Police offered a AU$1 million (~$678K USD) reward for information and are still investigating whether anyone helped Freeman evade capture for seven months. His anti-government grievances and survival expertise made him one of Australia's most wanted.
6/6 🧵
The case highlights the dangers of serving warrants on armed suspects with extremist ideologies and wilderness skills — a combination that turned a routine police visit into a deadly ambush and months-long fugitive hunt across Victoria's alpine forests.
📎 Source
📎 Source
#threadstorm
4/6 🧵
For months, police suspected Freeman had killed himself — the wilderness search turned up nothing despite massive resources. But a break (source unclear) led tactical teams to his location. Formal ID via fingerprinting will take up to 48 hours to confirm it's him.
6/6 🧵
Massive manhunt, remote terrain, months of silence — and a violent conclusion. Two officers dead, one wounded, and a fugitive who nearly pulled off an indefinite disappearance in the bush.
📎 Source
📎 Source
#threadstorm
5/6 🧵
Formal ID pending (fingerprints, up to 48 hours), but police are confident it's Freeman. A AU$1M reward was on the table for tips. Investigators now probing whether anyone helped him evade capture for seven months.
4/6 🧵
Special Operations Group offered surrender. Freeman refused. After three hours, police shot him. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush says they "strongly believed" he was armed, though it's unclear if Freeman fired back. The goal was peaceful arrest — it didn't end that way.
3/6 🧵
The suspect had wilderness survival skills and reportedly held "sovereign citizen" beliefs with grievances against police. That combo kept him alive in Victoria's dense alpine forests for months. Police even suspected suicide at one point — but he was still out there.
2/6 🧵
Freeman vanished after opening fire on officers serving a warrant at his Porepunkah home on Aug. 26, 2025. No confirmed sightings since — until tactical police cornered him Monday in Thologolong, two hours north. He was holed up in a shelter, possibly a shipping container.
1/6 🧵
Seven months on the run in Australia's alpine wilderness — and it ended in a three-hour standoff. Dezi Freeman, 56, allegedly killed two cops and wounded a third last August. Police just shot him dead in a remote forest, believing he'd been surviving off-grid the whole time.