A massive search continues for a heavily armed man who allegedly shot and killed two policeman at his property in the state’s north-east on Tuesday morning.
A 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable were killed during a shootout at a property in the town of Porepunkah, about 300 kilometres from Melbourne.
A detective was also seriously injured after being shot in the lower body, and yesterday underwent surgery.
It is believed the person accused of killing the officers, Porepunkah man Dezi Freeman, is a “sovereign citizen” who once called police “terrorist thugs”.
On Tuesday night, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said 10 officers attended a semi-rural property on Rayner Track shortly after 10:30am to execute a search warrant.
The shooting unfolded on a rural property on the outskirts of Porepunkah on Tuesday. (ABC News)
“They were met by the offender and they were murdered in cold blood,” Chief Commissioner Bush said.
“He was heavily armed and he was able to escape into the bush. I do understand that he was pursued, but he was able to get away.”
It is believed he headed into the bush alone.
Police have accounted for the whereabouts of the suspect’s family with his partner and children attending a police station late Tuesday evening.
“There is nothing to suggest they were ever in the company of the suspect following [Tuesday’s] incident,” police said.
PM says heart goes out to grieving families
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking on ABC program 7.30 last night, described the shooting as “horrific”.
“This is terrible news, and my heart goes out to the families who are grieving tonight,” Mr Albanese said.
“The men and women who wear blue, or wear a uniform, take a risk when they go to work each and every day.
“But this incident is quite horrific, and the whole of the police family will also be grieving at this time.”
On Tuesday night, Porepunkah residents received text messages from Victoria Police warning them to stay inside due to “an active armed offender in the general area of Porepunkah”.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush says the man is heavily armed and dangerous. (ABC News)
“He is obviously a very dangerous person and he needs to be caught. And that’s why we’ve committed every resource to do that,” Chief Commissioner Bush said.
He said police were receiving a wealth of information that they were currently working through, and called on anyone else with information to come forward.
Hundreds of police officers have been assigned to the search.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan described the two police officers’ deaths as “heartbreaking”.
“Policing comes with danger, and every day our police officers meet that danger with enormous courage and dedication,” she says.
“And this tragedy is a painful reminder of that bravery”.
Police officers ‘paid the ultimate price’
Police Association Victoria CEO Wayne Gatt said the two police members had “paid the ultimate price for protecting the community” and that police stations across the state had fallen silent.
“And I do want I do want to acknowledge that we still have hundreds of our members putting themselves in danger right as we speak in an attempt to conclude this situation.”
Flowers were left at Wangaratta police station. (ABC News: Sacha Payne)
 Mr Gatt said police officers around Victoria would keep busy doing their jobs, but eventually crash in the “quiet and silence of their homes”.
“They will have to deal with the loss of their colleagues and they will hug their loved ones a little tighter, something sadly, two of our members tonight will have missed the opportunity to do forever,” he said on Tuesday.
Anyone with information is urged to contact their local police station, triple zero or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.