The long pursuit of cop-killer Dezi Freeman

THE LONG SEARCH FOR DEZI FREEMAN:. * August 26, 2025:. Two officers are killed and a third officer is wounded while serving a search warrant on a property at Porepunkah in Victoria's alpine region..

The gunman flees into bushland, sparking a massive manhunt.. His wife and children later attend a police station * August 27:. Dezi Freeman, also known as Desmond Freeman and Desmond Filby, is identified by police as the gunman..

Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson are named as the officers killed * August 28:. Police warn that anyone caught harbouring Freeman will face serious consequences as dangerous terrain and bad weather impede search efforts * August 29:. Police confirm Freeman's wife and a 15-year-old boy have been arrested in a raid on an address in Chandler Court, Porepunkah..

They are interviewed and released without charge * August 31:. Freeman's wife urges him to surrender and says she will co-operate with Victoria Police.. She is later confirmed to have been present at the time of the shooting * September 1:.

Police say members of the public know where Freeman is and confirm they have received more than 450 pieces of information * September 5:. Sen Const De Waart-Hottart receives a guard of honour after his funeral at the Victoria Police Academy * September 6:. A $1 million reward is offered for information that leads to Freeman's arrest * September 8:.

Family, friends, colleagues and political leaders come together to farewell Det Sen Const Thompson * September 14:. Police lift travel warnings for the Porepunkah area * September 29:. The slain officers' names are added to the Victoria Police memorial as Chief Commissioner Mike Bush confirms the search for Freeman has been scaled back * October 14:.

Mount Buffalo National Park partially reopens to the public as police concede Freeman may have left the area * October 24:. Taskforce Summit is formed to take over the search for Freeman * November 9:. Police conduct firearms testing near Barrett Lane and Rayner Track in Porepunkah after reports of a gunshot in the vicinity minutes after Freeman opened fire on officers * February 2, 2026:.

Victoria Police announce a fresh five-day search of the area but it does not produce a breakthrough * March 13:. Victoria Police confirm they have abandoned plans to prosecute three people, including Freeman's wife * March 30:. Freeman is shot dead at a rural address in Victoria's northeast shortly after 8.30am Australian Associated Press.