Manhunt for 'heavily armed' accused cop killer into second day
A manhunt for alleged offender Dezi Freeman continues today after the operation plunged the entire town of Porepunkah in lockdown yesterday morning.
Moderated by Tomas Kauer 
An accused gunman who killed two police officers and injured a third remains on the run nearly 24 hours after the deadly shooting in rural Victoria.
A manhunt for alleged offender Dezi Freeman continues today after the operation plunged the entire town of Porepunkah into lockdown yesterday morning.
Freeman allegedly fled into the bush after gunning down two police officers who had attended his property to execute a warrant.
LIVE UPDATES: Police search rural Victoria for alleged cop killer
The situation remains "active" and police have warned residents to stay alert and listen to advice as hundreds of officers comb Porepunkah for the accused cop killer.
Police have admitted Freeman, who lives on the semi-rural property in Porepunkah where the shooting took place, knows the area "better than us".
Victoria's Chief Police Commissioner Mike Bush said Freeman had a superior knowledge of the local area, but emphasised "expert" police resources were pouring in to help find him.
"He knows that area. Even though we have experts in the area, he will know that area better than us," Bush said.
Asked if it was possible Freeman had laid traps for searchers, or had resorted to a hypothetical bunker, Bush said "anything's possible".
"Our people are used to those sorts of interventions and are well briefed," he said.
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He urged people not to help Freeman lay low in the area.
"Don't support this person. It's very dangerous," he said.
"He's killed two police officers and injured a third. He does not deserve anyone's assistance."
Police have also warned Freeman could be armed with "several" firearms.
"We believe he has longarms, powerful firearms, multiple firearms," Bush said.
He refused to comment on reports that Freeman had taken a fallen officer's gun.
Freeman's family presented to police overnight and have been confirmed as safe.
"We understood where they were and we invited his partner to a police station where we've spoken to her," he said.
"I think the partner did go willingly to the police station to meet with us."
Police also met with the couple's children to confirm their safety.
Locals in Porepunkah have still been told to stay inside and "be vigilant".
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Bush repeated the message from police for locals not to go outside unless it was absolutely necessary.
Alpine Shire Council, which includes Porepunkah in its LGA, has announced that council facilities will stay closed today.
The identities of the officers killed in the shooting have not yet been shared but are expected to be released this afternoon once family members have been contacted.
Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan said she intended today to speak to the families of the two police officers killed in the Porepunkah shooting.
"The focus since that just tragic event of yesterday has been to ensure that the work has gone into supporting the families, contacting next of kin," she told Today.
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Who is Dezi Freeman?
The accused gunman on the run has been identified as Dezi Freeman.
He is a self-described "sovereign citizen" who is known to police.
According to the Australian Federal Police, a sovereign citizen – also known as a SovCit – seeks to "disassociate from society and refuses to engage with societal requirements like paying tax".
Bush yesterday said Freeman had been living on the property in Porepunkah which had an "adjoining bus".
Freeman was earlier revealed to have referred to police as "frigging Nazis", "Gestapo" and "terrorist thugs", a court judgement shows.
He tried to take a police officer and the County Court of Victoria to the Supreme Court of Victoria in November 2024 to fight driving offences.
In another brush with the legal system, Freeman tried to "arrest" a magistrate and several police officers while appearing in Wangaratta Magistrates Court.
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