SYDNEY: A gunman killed two police officers in a "horrific" shooting at a rural Australian property on Tuesday before fleeing into the bush, police said. Officers hunted for the man into the night and told residents to stay indoors after the deadly confrontation in the small town of Porepunkah in the northeast of Victoria state. "The suspect for this horrific event is still at large," Victoria police chief commissioner Mike Bush said. "We know that the person is heavily armed. We know that they are dangerous," he told a news conference.
Bush said the incident occurred "over minutes" at a property with a house and a bus, resulting in the deaths of a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable. "They were met by the offender and they were murdered in cold blood," he said. Another detective was wounded in the lower body and taken to hospital for surgery, but his life was not considered to be in danger.
Australian media, including The Age newspaper, said the suspect was 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, describing him as a radicalised conspiracy theorist who had expressed hatred for the police. Freeman was a self-professed "sovereign citizen", the paper said, referring to a movement that falsely believes it is not subject to laws passed by the government. Bush did not identify the suspect but said he was known to police.
Ten police had gone to the property in the morning to execute a search warrant when the gunfire broke out, the police chief said. He was unable to say whether police discharged their weapons. The suspect escaped into the bush, he said. "I do understand that he was pursued but he was able to get away on foot," Bush said. The gunman apparently fled by himself without his partner and two children, who had yet to be located. "Our priority is to arrest him to ensure that he's held to account for the actions, but also very much to bring safety and security to this community," Bush said.
Deadly shootings are relatively rare in Australia, with police fatalities even rarer. A ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons has been in place since a 1996 mass shooting in Port Arthur, Tasmania, in which a lone gunman killed 35 people.
Alpine Shire Mayor Sarah Nicholas said it had been a day of "deep sorrow and shock" for the community. "We are grieving together, and we will continue to support one another with compassion and care," she said in a video message on social media, her voice breaking with emotion. Schoolchildren had been kept inside during the incident, Nicholas said.
All council facilities were closed until further notice. Police said homicide squad detectives would investigate the shooting.
Ambulance Victoria said its paramedics were dispatched to the scene. "We stand united in shock and sadness after today's tragic incident in Porepunkah," it said in a statement. "We are wrapping our arms around our own at this time and ensuring our paramedics and first responders who attended this incident are supported." — AFP
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