A ‘s£x offender’ has allegedly sh0t two police officers de@d in an execution-style killing before taking his wife and two children hostage on the run.
Dezi Freeman fled with his family into the bushland after he allegedly sh0t two police officers de@d at his Porpepunkah farm, about 186 miles northeast of Melbourne.
The sho0ting occurred in midmorning when 10 armed police officers tried to execute a search warrant at a property in Porepunkah, a town of just over 1,000 people in Victoria state, 320 kilometers (200 miles) northeast of Melbourne.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said 10 officers went down to the property when they were shot at. He said a 59-year-old detective and 35-year-old senior constable were “murd£red in cold blood”.
The officers “were met by the offender and they were murdered in cold blood,” Bush said. The man fled alone, on foot and heavily armed into surrounding forest where hundreds of officers were still searching for him, the police chief said.
Bush would not divulge what the warrant related to and wouldn’t confirm the man’s name or believed motivations. Officers were also seeking the man’s wife and two children, whose whereabouts were unknown.
Another detective was shot and was undergoing surgery Tuesday night, Bush said. The man’s injuries were not life-threatening.
Police urged residents to stay indoors and told the public not to travel to the area.
Victoria Police has released a statement following the shootings.
The statement said: “Two on-duty police officers have been shot and killed during an incident in Porepunkah this morning.
“It’s believed ten police attended the property on Rayner Track shortly after 10.30am on Tuesday, 26 August.
“Two officers were fatally shot and a third was seriously injured after being shot in the lower body.
“At this time no other officers have been physically injured, however, they remain at the property.
“The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are still being determined, and it remains an active and ongoing situation.
“It’s believed the offender has since left the property, and at this time his whereabouts are unknown.
“A significant search is actively underway to locate the man.
“We urge the public in and around the township of Porepunkah to remain indoors until further notice.
“We also ask people not to travel into the area.
“Detectives from the Homicide Squad will investigate the incident and will attend the scene along with detectives from the Armed Crime Squad and Fugitive Squad.
“Police from the Special Operations Group and Critical Incident Response Team also remain on scene.
“Further information about the incident will be provided once it comes to hand and is operationally appropriate to do so.
