• Two police officers shot dead while serving a warrant in Porepunkah, Victoria.
• The suspect, 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, remains at large in alpine bushland.
• Authorities urge residents to stay indoors as the manhunt continues.

A massive manhunt is underway for a "heavily armed" suspect after two Australian police officers were shot dead and one seriously injured during an operation to serve a warrant in Porepunkah, a small town about 300 kilometers northeast of Melbourne. The shooting happened shortly after 10:30 AM local time when a group of ten officers arrived at the suspect's property. Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush described the officers as having been "murdered in cold blood" in an ambush from which the gunman, identified as 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, escaped into dense bushland, prompting a significant law enforcement response. The officers were attacked while serving a warrant related to historical sex offences, according to reports from BBC, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.

Dezi Freeman has been described as possessing expert bushcraft skills and being well-armed, complicating the search as officers contend with harsh winter conditions in the area. Police confirmed that Freeman's wife and children, who were initially thought to be missing, were located safely overnight. The incident has shocked the local community of around 1,000 residents. Porepunkah's Mayor, Sarah Nicholas, expressed profound sadness and solidarity with the victims' families, stating, "Today has been a day of deep sorrow and shock for our community," as reported by CBS News and Reuters.

The suspected shooter has been linked to the "sovereign citizen" movement, which promotes the idea that government authority is illegitimate. Court records revealed that he has previously made hostile statements against law enforcement, referring to them as "Nazis." Authorities are concerned about Freeman's capacity for violence, especially considering Australia’s relatively low rates of gun violence compared to other nations. The last fatal shooting of an Australian police officer occurred in November 2023, emphasizing the severity and rarity of such incidents, according to information from Reuters and BBC.