Blanket Drops… Stolen Police Gun Revealed: Cop Killer Dezi Freeman Shot Dead After 7-Month Manhunt

After 216 days on the run, accused double cop killer Dezi Freeman has been shot dead by tactical police in a dramatic three-hour standoff in Victoria’s north-east.

A man believed to be the 56-year-old fugitive emerged from a rural property wrapped only in a blanket before dropping it to reveal a stolen police handgun. Special Operations Group officers then opened fire, ending one of Australia’s most intense manhunts.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said officers strongly believe the man killed was Freeman, though formal identification is pending and could take 24-48 hours. “He was given every opportunity to surrender peacefully,” Bush stated. “He declined.”

The confrontation unfolded at a property in Thologolong, near Walwa, approximately 94 km north-east of the original crime scene. Police, acting on a tip-off, surrounded a shipping container-style structure early Monday morning.

Negotiators spent nearly three hours appealing for the man to come out and surrender. He eventually stepped outside wrapped in a blanket. In a shocking final act, he dropped the blanket — exposing what police believe was a loaded police service pistol stolen during last year’s deadly ambush.

Seconds later, shortly after 8:30am, members of the Special Operations Group fatally shot him. No police officers were injured.

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“HE WAS JUST WRAPPED IN A BLANKET” — Then the Gun Appeared

The bizarre blanket drop has become the defining moment of Freeman’s last stand. Commissioner Bush confirmed police “strongly believed” the man was armed as he emerged from the structure.

The shooting brings closure to Operation Summit and relief to the families of the two slain officers.

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The Porepunkah Ambush

The manhunt began on August 26, 2025, when ten police officers attended a property called Four Gully Farm near Porepunkah in Victoria’s alpine region to execute a search warrant related to historical child sex abuse allegations.

Without the elite Special Operations Group present, gunfire erupted almost immediately. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, 35, were shot dead. A third officer was seriously wounded but survived.

Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen and experienced bushman, fled into the dense bushland of Mount Buffalo National Park. He was reportedly armed with a homemade shotgun, a rifle, and the two stolen police handguns.

Despite one of the largest search operations in Australian history — involving hundreds of officers, helicopters, tracking dogs, and even interstate support — Freeman evaded capture for over seven months in rugged, often snow-covered terrain.

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A Reclusive Conspiracy Theorist

Freeman was known locally as a conspiracy theorist who rejected government authority. He had previously lost his firearms licence and lived a reclusive lifestyle on the semi-rural property, where he was reportedly home-schooling children.

A $1 million reward had been offered for information leading to his arrest. Police had publicly stated in February they no longer believed he was alive, yet he managed to survive in the wilderness until this morning’s tip-off.

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End of the Longest Manhunt

The discovery and fatal shooting in Thologolong mark the dramatic conclusion to a case that gripped Victoria and shocked the nation.

Chief Commissioner Bush praised the officers involved and said the focus now turns to supporting the families of the fallen policemen and completing formal identification and investigations.

The incident, including the original risk assessment for the Porepunkah warrant and today’s shooting, will be subject to standard coronial and internal reviews.

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As details continue to emerge, the image of a man stepping out wrapped in a blanket before revealing a stolen police gun will likely remain one of the most haunting moments in recent Australian true crime history.

For the families of Detectives Thompson and De Waart-Hottart, today brings an end to a long wait for justice — though nothing can replace the officers they lost.