Continued Manhunt for Dezi Freeman: A Community in Mourning

Sat Oct 25 2025 09:58:50 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Australian community grapples with the tragic loss of two police officers as a manhunt for the suspect, who is reportedly heavily armed, intensifies.

After the fatal shooting of two police officers in Porepunkah, Victoria, the local community is left in shock and mourning. The authorities are leading a large manhunt for the suspect Dezi Freeman, who is still at large and heavily armed. The incident has raised questions regarding public safety and the nature of extremist ideologies amid growing concerns for policing within the community.

Two police officers who were shot dead while on duty in a rural Australian town have been named, as a massive search continues for their alleged killer.

Victoria Police identified the victims as 59-year-old Detective Neal Thompson - a local officer on the brink of retirement - and 35-year-old Senior Constable Vadim De Waart.

The pair had travelled to the property in Porepunkah, north-east of Melbourne, alongside eight colleagues to execute a warrant for alleged sexual offences. Another officer was seriously injured in the shootout but is recovering after surgery.

Police say the suspect - named as local man Dezi Freeman, 56 - is heavily armed and still at large more than 24 hours on.

Thompson joined the force in 1987 and worked with the major fraud and crime squads before moving to the town of Wangaratta in 2007. A lover of the outdoors, he was planning for his imminent retirement. De Waart was temporarily posted to Wangaratta while living in Melbourne, having moved there from Belgium.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush described the loss of the two officers as devastating, emphasizing that it struck at the heart of both the policing family and the Porepunkah community. He noted the risks officers face daily in their commitment to protect the community.

A massive search effort involving officers, helicopters, and armoured vehicles is underway in the bushland where Mr Freeman escaped. The authorities have urged residents to stay indoors while they conduct their search, with some locals likening the search to finding a needle in a haystack.

Local business operator Misty-Rose Wilson explained the difficult conditions facing search teams due to thick bush and steep terrain, coupled with adverse weather.

Mr Freeman, who has previously identified himself as a sovereign citizen, has a history of anti-authoritarian sentiments documented in social media and court records. The incident has reignited discussions about how law enforcement handles individuals with extremist views.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the threat posed in this incident, drawing parallels to a prior police ambush in Queensland, underscoring the need for vigilance and awareness of such threats within the community.