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On the morning of 26 August 2025, Dezi Bird Freeman, a self-described sovereign citizen known to police, allegedly shot at police officers executing a warrant at his property in Porepunkah, Victoria, Australia. Officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart were killed, and a third officer was injured.[2][3]
Desmond Christopher Filby was born in either 1968 or 1969. He attended school in the Melbourne suburb of Glen Waverley until 1977, when his family moved to the regional city of Wodonga. By 2003, Filby had adopted the name Dezi Bird Freeman; a surname popular in the sovereign citizen movement.[4][5] By profession, Freeman worked as a freelance photographer.[6]
From at least 2019, Freeman actively posted content on social media that was hostile to police and authority figures, including comments that "the only good cop is a dead cop" and "[police] all need to be exterminated."[5] The same perspective was conveyed in a 2024 court appearance over the cancellation of his driver's licence, wherein he labelled police "friggin Nazis" and "terrorist thugs".[7]
Sources contacted by The Age described Freeman's views as having become more extreme during the COVID-19 pandemic. He protested vaccines and lockdowns, and refused to wear masks.[6][8] Freeman was associated with a 2021 attempt to bring a private prosecution of treason against former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.[7][9][10] Freeman had previously appeared on an episode of A Current Affair in 2018, concerning a dispute with neighbours.[11]
As of August 2025, Freeman was living in a bus with his wife and two children at a property in Porepunkah,[12][13][14] a rural town 320 km (199 mi) northeast of Melbourne.[15] The family regularly attended church.[16] Freeman's oldest son, aged 20, had moved out a year earlier.[17] The property, known as "Four Gully Farm", was a compound owned by a couple, which housed multiple people. At least one member of the couple shared his anti-government views, and subscribed to COVID-19 conspiracy theories.[18] Freeman's firearms licence had been cancelled in 2020.[19]
Shootings
Image of Freeman released by Victoria Police
Around 10:30am on 26 August 2025, ten Victoria Police officers, made up of local officers and members of the sexual offences and child abuse investigation team, attended the "Four Gully Farm" property.[14][15][20] A prior risk assessment had concluded that the police tactical group the Special Operations Group (SOG) would not be needed.[21] Police intended to execute a warrant against Freeman as part of a firearms prohibition order in relation to alleged sexual offences against a child under the age of 16, stated to have occurred between 2023 and 2025.[22][23][24]
A 27-minute long video that was according to police filmed by a Freeman family member of police attempting to execute the warrant became public over two weeks later.[25][26] The video shows that after the police arrived at the bus he was living in, Freeman, inside with his wife and his two year old child, began arguing with and insulting the officers.[27][26] Police attempted to pry open the bus door.[26] When Freeman refused to open the door, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson opened a window, and entered feet first. Soon after this, two gunshots can be heard.[26] Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart were fatally shot.[27]
The video stops after the gunshots. It is unknown at what point a third officer was shot in the leg. The officer hid under the bus for nearly an hour until help arrived.[28][29] Freeman escaped alone on foot into the bush.[20][30] He is believed to be armed with a homemadeshotgun, a rifle and a police issue handgun.[31][32] The police SOG arrived by helicopter from Melbourne before midday.[32]
Local residents were advised to stay indoors, and Porepunkah Primary School was placed under lockdown, before students returned home later in the afternoon.[33][34] Cold, snowy and windy weather conditions made the initial stages of the search more difficult.[35]
Later descriptions of the event by Victoria Police characterised Freeman's wife's conduct as uncooperative, and stated she may be charged with obstruction.[36][37]
Freeman is said to be an experienced bushman, and it was speculated by locals he could survive in the mountainous region for weeks.[42]
A temporary no-fly zone, prohibiting all aircraft including drones, was established over the search area by Victoria Police and was extended multiple times.[45][46] Currently, the no-fly zone covers an 18 kilometre radius of Porepunkah Airport and is in effect until 26 September.[47]
On 28 August, Freeman's wife and 15-year-old son were arrested in a raid on a Porepunkah property. They were subsequently interviewed and released pending further inquiries.[39][48]
A 61-year old Bright man was arrested and bailed following a 29 August search on his house, during the manhunt for Freeman. The man was charged with firearm and drug offences.[49][50] The man told ABC News following his arrest that he had never met Freeman.[43]
On the sixth day of the manhunt (31 August), Freeman's wife Amalia publicly urged her husband to surrender and offered support to Victoria Police, saying she "does not hold anti-authority views", and expressed her condolences and sorrow for the loss of the deceased officers.[43]
On 1 September, police stated they believed that members of the Porepunkah community knew where Freeman was hiding, and that they were helping him avoid capture.[51] Police have set up a site in the nearby town of Bright where members of the public can provide information on Freeman's whereabouts.[52]
On 6 September, police announced a A$1 million reward for information leading to Freeman's capture. This is the largest reward ever offered by Victoria Police for an arrest.[53]
On 12 September, the police SOG supported by police tactical officers from all Australian state and territory police tactical groups, and New Zealand, conducted the largest police tactical operation in Australian history, involving over 125 officers.[38][54] On the same day, warnings against travelling to the Porepunkah area, which had been in place since the day of the shootings, were lifted with residents advised to remain watchful and vigilant. Mount Buffalo National Park remained closed to visitors.[55][56]
As part of investigations surrounding the shootings, a house in Myrtleford was searched on 19 September in relation to a firearms prohibition order. No arrests were made.[57][58]
Since the initial alleged shooting, there have been no officially confirmed sightings of Freeman, who remains at large with the manhunt ongoing.[59]
Victims
Those killed were Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, aged 59, and Belgian-born Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, aged 35. Thompson, a 38-year police veteran, was days away from retirement.[60][61][62] He had joined Victoria Police in 1987 and had worked seven years in general duties at the Collingwood police station before becoming a detective based in Melbourne. In 2007, he transferred to the Wangaratta Criminal Investigation Unit.[60][63] Thompson was chosen to serve the warrant as he had previously dealt with Freeman and had established a rapport with him.[64] De Waart-Hottart had joined Victoria Police in 2018 and had worked three years in general duties at the St Kilda police station before transferring to the Public Order Response Team in 2023. He was on temporary assignment in Wangaratta and was fluent in English, Spanish, French and Flemish.[60][63]
Another male detective was seriously injured after being shot in the leg. He was flown to The Alfred Hospital in a stable condition and underwent surgery.[32][65][66] On 6 September, it was reported that he was recovering at home.[53]
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "the threat of 'sovereign citizens' and extremist ideologies must be taken seriously."[68] Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said "our officers meet danger with such enormous courage and dedication".[69] Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Mike Bush, said the incident was a "devastating loss".[14]Helen Haines, member of Parliament for Indi, which covers Porepunkah, called the deaths of the officers an "extreme and heartbreaking tragedy", and disavowed "extreme ideological perspectives" involving acting outside of the law.[70]
Many landmarks across Victoria were lit up at night on 27 August in blue to pay tribute to the two policemen killed.[71] A moment of silence was held in the Parliament of Australia on 28 August, and flags at Victorian government buildings were flown at half-mast.[72] Floral tributes were also left at Wangaratta's police station.[72][73] The Northern Territory Parliament was lit up in blue on 5 and 6 September.[74]
Australian and international journalists compared the incident with the 2022 Wieambilla shootings, in which a sovereign citizen fatally shot police in a rural community.[75][76][77]
On 31 August, at the anti-immigration March for Australia rallies, a protester at the Adelaide rally was seen holding a placard depicting Freeman. This action was widely condemned by police leaders and premiers across Australia. A few days later, he was arrested and charged with displaying offensive material in a public place.[78][79]
Local Porepunkah businesses struggled in the aftermath, with an initial advisory warning against visiting the town and the ongoing manhunt massively reducing visitor numbers to the town. The town is largely supported by tourism, particularly skiing and snow sports. During the search for Freeman, the region experienced heavy snowfall that would usually bring a surge of tourism and business, however this was suppressed by the ongoing manhunt.[80] A support package of $2.5 million was announced by the Victorian Government on 15 September, to assist businesses in Porepunkah and the wider Alpine Shire.[81][82]The Saturday Paper characterized this compensation as a "modest sum".[83] The Victorian Minister for Tourism Steve Dimopoulos encouraged people to consider visiting the area "when it is safe to" in an effort to further support businesses.[82]
Locals have expressed hope that Porepunkah does not become infamous for the shootings and instead remains a popular tourism destination.[84]
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