SYDNEY, March 30 (Reuters) – Australian police have shot dead a fugitive gunman who had been on the run since August after allegedly killing two officers in the state of Victoria, Australian media reported on Monday.
Police had been hunting for Dezi Freeman, previously known as Desmond Filby, since the shooting on a rural property that also injured a third officer. Authorities had offered an A$1 million ($684,700) reward for information leading to his capture.
Freeman allegedly opened fire on a team of 10 police officers, including members of the sexual offences and child investigation team, when they arrived at a property in Porepunkah, about 300 km (186 miles) northeast of Melbourne, to execute a search warrant.
Believed to have expert bushcraft skills and multiple powerful firearms, Freeman fled into bushland at Mount Buffalo National Park and had been described by local media as a “sovereign citizen” who regards the government as illegitimate.
The 56-year-old was shot at about 8:30 a.m. on Monday (2130 GMT, Sunday), the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.
Victoria Police said in a statement that a man was fatally shot by police at a property in northeast Victoria during an operation to locate Freeman but did not identify the man.
“No police officers were injured during the incident,” the statement said, adding that further details would be released later on Monday.
($1 = 1.4605 Australian dollars)
(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul)
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