Gun shots ring out on Victorian high country property in the hunt for alleged sovereign citizen cop killer
By KYLIE STEVENS, and PAUL SHAPIRO, and WAYNE FLOWER,
'Sovereign citizen' Dezi Freeman, 56, remains on the run after he allegedly shot and killed two police officers and wounded a third with a home-made shotgun at a property near the small north-east Victorian town of Porepunkah on Tuesday morning.
A 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable both died in the horrific incident, which came after 10 officers arrived at the property to serve a warrant.
Freeman allegedly took the dead officers' guns and a police radio to listen to officers' movements and then fled deep into alpine wilderness, about 300km northeast of Melbourne.
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The search for Freeman involves more than 100 police officers, including some from NSW.
There were some initial reports Freeman may have taken his wife and two children hostage, however police said he fled alone and that the trio attended a local police station on Tuesday night.
02:53
Shots fired as police urge locals to stay indoors
At least three shots have been fired at the property where Dezi Freeman allegedly shot dead two police officers on Tuesday, as the manhunt for the accused cop killer in Porepunkah continues.
Bangs were heard ringing out from the Rayner Track property just before 4.30pm on Wednesday.
An ambulance and multiple police cars were seen entering the road-blocked area shortly afterwards.
A police helicopter that was seen hovering over the property has since stopped
It comes as Victoria Police sent out new text messages to people in the Porepunkah area on Wednesday afternoon.
'Specialist police continue to search for Dezi Freeman (aka Desmond FILBY),' the text message read.
'There are multiple police units in the general area of Porepunkah, and Victoria Police request you restrict non-essential travel.
'Some roadblocks and travel restrictions may be in place. If you see anything suspicious call 000.'
AUGUST 27, 2025: Porepunkah, Victoria. Two ambulances rush to the scene after gunshots were heard in Porepunkah, Victoria. (Photo by Wayne Flower/Daily Mail)
Victorian Police armed tactical response officers are seen back at the property believed to be where 2 police officers were killed in Porepunkah in Victoria, Wednesday, August 27, 2025. A significant search is underway for a "heavily armed" fugitive involved in the 'cold-blooded murder' of two police officers. (AAP Image/Simon Dallinger ) NO ARCHIVING
DAYRATE Day 2 Manhunt continues for Dezi Freeman in PorepunkahEXCLUSIVE27 August 2025©MEDIA-MODE.COM
01:48
Slain cops named and pictured
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, have been named as the officers killed in the line of duty by suspected gunman Dezi Freeman in Porepunkah on Tuesday.
Detective Thompson was from the Wangaratta CIU and had worked in the area for many years. Tragically, he was only weeks away from retiring from the force.
He was a keen hunter who had previously dealt with Freeman.
The Age reported that he had 'established a rapport' with Freeman and was therefore chosen to serve yesterday's warrant.
Sources told the newspaper that he 'was the first officer to knock on a door at the property' and was allegedly shot by Freeman after being ambushed.
'Neal joined Victoria Police in September 1987 and, after completing his training, spent seven years in general duties at Collingwood Police Station,' Victoria Police said in a statement.
'For the next decade, Neal worked as a detective at the Major Fraud Squad and the State Crime Squad, before taking up his most recent post at Wangaratta CIU in July 2007.
'Neal was an adventurer and enjoyed all things outdoors. He loved getting out in nature, and his friends and colleagues regularly joined him on these trips.
'Neal had spent the past six years alongside his partner, Lisa, the love of his life. Since the pair met, Neal had found new purpose and was planning in earnest for his imminent retirement. Together with Lisa, Neal had built a new home and had a long list of tasks planned after he knocked off work for the last time.'
It is with incredible sadness that Victoria Police names the two officers who were tragically killed in the line of duty in Porepunkah yesterday: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart.¿
It is with incredible sadness that Victoria Police names the two officers who were tragically killed in the line of duty in Porepunkah yesterday: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart.¿
Sen-Const. De Waart, from Belgium, joined Victoria Police in 2018, and was a member of the Melbourne-based public order response team.
He was on secondment in northeast Victoria and had reportedly only been in the area for a week before he was shot dead.
The 35-year-old was fluent in English, French and Dutch and was learning Spanish. He was also interested in computer graphics, public speaking, and international relations.
'Vadim started his policing career at the Victoria Police Academy in December 2018. Following his training, Vadim joined St Kilda Police Station where he worked for three years, before joining PORT as a senior constable in April 2023,' Victoria Police said.
An eternal optimist and avid traveller... he had also completed scuba dives all around the world and motorcycling trips more locally with his friends and colleagues.
'He was a keen gin collector and always picked up a local bottle on his overseas adventures for his large collection at home. While travelling was his passion, Vadim was extremely proud to have purchased his first home in Melbourne in recent years.
'Vadim is survived by his beloved parents Carolina and Alain, who live in his native Belgium, and his younger brother Sacha who lives in Switzerland. Closer to home in Melbourne, he leaves behind his aunty Jacqueline, uncle Shane, uncle Peter, aunty Maria and his cousins Christopher, Jeremy, Laura and Tessa.'
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement: 'This devastating loss of Neal and Vadim has struck at the heart of Victoria Police, the broader policing family and the community of Porepunkah.
'In the coming days, weeks and months, we will all grieve this loss and deeply miss our colleagues and friends who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
'It is not lost on me that our members take a risk every time they go to work to protect the Victorian community.
'While we all live with the knowledge that the worst could happen on a shift, we don’t expect it to.
'In these difficult times, it is so important that our people stand together and support each other, and I have full confidence that we will all do this with dignity and respect.'
It is with incredible sadness that Victoria Police names the two officers who were tragically killed in the line of duty in Porepunkah yesterday: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart.¿
It is with incredible sadness that Victoria Police names the two officers who were tragically killed in the line of duty in Porepunkah yesterday: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart.¿
03:45
Victorian Premier addresses media
Premier Jacinta Allan has given a press conference on Wednesday evening.
She expressed her 'deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues' of the two slain police officers.
She also extended that to the 'wider Victoria Police family who are feeling this grief, feeling this hurt so keenly, yet continue to put on that uniform with pride and courage and go to work to keep our community safe and particularly to those officers who are involved in the active search'.
Briefings were held between herself and the Victorian Police Commissioner throughout the day, she said, and she said she was making resources available to them.
'There are people behind that uniform and there are people who loved those men in uniform. I'll be conveying to those families how much we stand with them and support them.'
Allan said prominent buildings across Melbourne will be lit up blue this evening to commemorate the slain officers.
'It's a way, a very physical way, that we can say to the men and women of Victoria Police we stand with you, we support you, we care for you and we love you,' Allan said.
'Particularly in this time of grief, and particularly to the broader Victorian community, now is the time for unity.
'Now is the time to join together and show support, not just for Victoria police, to those emergency services, but to each other.'
The Royal Exhibition Building, Immigration Museum, Melbourne Town Hall and Parliament House are among the buildings expected to be illuminated.
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