Flowers laid at Shepparton Police Station on August 27 after two members of Victoria Police were fatally shot and another one injured in a Porepunkah ambush the day before.
Photo by
Bree Harding
Sympathisers have begun delivering flowers to Shepparton Police Station, paying tribute to the two Victoria Police members who were fatally shot and a third who was injured during an ambush at Porepunkah on Tuesday.
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It’s believed 10 police attended a property on Rayner Track in Victoria’s Alpine region, 163km from Shepparton, shortly after 10.30am on August 26.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35, were killed while attempting to serve a search warrant at the property on the outskirts of the town on Tuesday morning.
A third officer was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition after being shot in the lower body.
No other officers were physically injured.
The suspected gunman, 56-year-old Porepunkah local Desmond Filby, also known as Desmond Freeman and Dezi Freeman, remains at large after being sighted by police fleeing on foot into the bush from the Raynor Track property shortly after the shootings.
Police have released this image of Desmond Filby (also known as Desmond, or Dezi, Freeman). He is described as being Caucasian, 183cm tall, medium build, short dark hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing dark green (khaki) tracksuit pants, dark green rain jacket, brown Blundstone boots and reading glasses.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush addressed the media at a press conference on Wednesday, August 27.
He said police were “putting every resource into this search”.
“We must find him,” Mr Bush said.
“We are putting every piece of support around the families of the officers that have passed,” Mr Bush said.
“I want to thank the public, not just in Victoria, but right across the country for supporting Victoria Police.”
Shepparton police welcomed the floral tributes at their Welsford St station, while the hunt continued.
Mr Bush repeated several times during his morning press conference that “anything is possible” when it came to Freeman’s whereabouts.
There have been no confirmed sightings of him since he disappeared into bushland.
He urged the public to be aware, as it is believed Freeman is armed with firearms.
“Be vigilant, keep yourselves safe, don’t go outside if you don’t need to,” he said.
“But if you see anything that arouses your suspicion and you think we need to know, please ring 000 and tell us immediately.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au
