VICTORIA, Australia – A sense of shock has swept through the small Victorian town of Porepunkah after an early morning shooting left two police officers dead and another seriously injured.
The attack kicked off a massive search for the suspected gunman, Dezi Freeman, aged 56, who has been described as a supporter of the “sovereign citizen” movement. The loss of the officers has left the tight-knit community reeling and police on high alert.
The shooting happened on Tuesday, 26 August 2025, just after 10:30 in the morning. Ten police officers had shown up at a Rayner Track property in Porepunkah with a warrant connected to past sex offence allegations.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush declined to share more about the investigation, saying details will be released later. As the officers approached, gunfire erupted. The suspect, said to be Freeman, fired at them with multiple weapons.
A detective from Wangaratta, 59, and a 35-year-old senior constable from Melbourne died at the scene. A third officer suffered major injuries to his legs and was airlifted to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
Gunman Went Bush
After the attack, Freeman escaped on foot into the bushland around Porepunkah, known for its wineries and scenic Alpine views. Police believe he had a homemade shotgun, a rifle, and a handgun he took from one of the fallen officers.
The search has grown to include hundreds of officers, helicopters, dogs, and the Special Operations Group. The hunt continued into the night with cold, wet weather adding to the difficulty. Chief Commissioner Bush spoke to reporters in Wangaratta, calling it a “terrible day” for both Victoria Police and the local community.
He said the officers were “murdered in cold blood” and called on Freeman to hand himself in. Bush confirmed that police were already aware of Freeman, and sending ten officers out reflected the seriousness of the case, but he stopped short of saying Freeman had been marked as high-risk.
Freeman is familiar to police, largely due to his activism in the sovereign citizen group, which rejects government and legal authority. Living with his family on a large property, Freeman had previously tried to launch a private legal case against then-premier Daniel Andrews and had been arrested at a Wangaratta protest. He’s often described the police in harsh and negative terms.
According to the AFP, the sovereign citizen movement has drawn more attention in recent years, fed by a growing distrust of authorities since COVID-19 and a small number of followers who might become violent.
The shooting has rattled Porepunkah, where crime is rare and residents know each other well. One woman, shaken, told ABC News, “Nothing like this ever happens here. We leave our cars unlocked and doors open.
It’s just terrible.” The town has shut down public spaces like libraries and council offices, and the primary school went into lockdown for several hours. School principal Jill Gillies said all students and staff were safe and sent home once the situation allowed.
Gun Laws in Australia
The national response was swift. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote in a statement on X that Australians around the country are grieving with the families and colleagues of the fallen officers. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan called the tragedy “heartbreaking” and praised the officers’ courage. Alpine Shire Mayor Sarah Nicholas offered her support to both the families and the wider community.
People have compared the incident to the Wieambilla shootings in Queensland in 2022, another case where two officers were killed by individuals with extremist views. Chief Commissioner Bush confirmed he discussed the situation with Queensland officials, but Victoria Police hasn’t said whether procedures were changed after the 2022 event.
Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt described a deep sense of dread among officers, calling the loss one that would affect the whole force.
During the search, police located Freeman’s partner and children, who were safe and not with him at the time of the shooting. Residents have been asked to stay alert and report anything unusual as police plan to release an updated photo of Freeman. The manhunt covers rugged country and is expected to continue until Freeman is caught.
Australia’s tough gun laws, introduced after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, mean events like this are unusual. Still, the Porepunkah shooting is a stark reminder of the dangers police face, especially in rural communities. The nation is waiting and hoping for the manhunt to end and for peace to return to this small corner of Victoria.
