A man, who police believe to be Freeman, was killed at a rural property in Victoria's northeast shortly after 8.30am on Monday as part of the operation to locate the fugitive.
The 56-year-old was wanted over the fatal shootings of Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were among a team of officers serving a warrant at his home in the small town of Porepunkah in late August.
The seven-month manhunt ended in Thologolong, near Walwa on the Victorian-NSW border, more than two hours' drive from Porepunkah.
A white caravan-type structure where Freeman was held siege as police closed in could be seen at the property. No police were injured.
In a press conference outside Freeman's hideout on Monday afternoon, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush revealed officers had been on the scene for more than 24 hours.
The commissioner said he had viewed footage of the shooting and remained satisfied it was justified.
Mr Bush said it appeared Freeman had something draped over his shoulders, likely a blanket, when he left the building.
"He then pulled the firearm from underneath that and presented it at our people," Mr Bush said.
Multiple officers fired at Freeman, who told police who he was about three hours before the shooting.
"The deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully and did not take that option," Mr Bush said, adding that it hadn't been ruled out that Freeman fired his gun.
Freeman, a self-described "sovereign citizen" also known as Desmond Filby, had not been seen since fleeing into bushland near his home shortly after shooting police.
It is unclear how long Freeman had been at the property, Mr Bush said.
Investigators are exploring the possibility he received help from others in evading police.
Neil Sutherland said his older brother, Rick, owned the property where Monday's shooting occurred but said his sibling had been in Tasmania for the past three months and was not a sovereign citizen.
"He's not like that," he said.
Mr Sutherland, who lives two properties from the site of the shooting, said he heard helicopters and at least one gunshot.
Mr Bush said it would have been very difficult for Freeman to get to where he was without assistance.
Detective Senior Constable Thompson, 59, was just a week away from retiring, while Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart, 34, was on temporary assignment to the area.
Families of the slain officers were the first to be notified of the shooting, Mr Bush said.
Hundreds of police from across Australia took part in the search for Freeman in extreme conditions, including snow and heat, and dense bushland in mountainous terrain.
Investigators in December revealed they had shifted their search efforts to locating the killer's body.
Premier Jacinta Allan said Freeman's death couldn't bring back the lives he took.
"Today an evil man is dead - it's over," she said.
"It's good that this individual is no longer a threat to the Victorian community."
The shooting has hung like a dark cloud over Porepunkah and surrounds but its shadow would be "lifted somewhat", Ms Allan said.
A social media post from someone purporting to be Freeman's son hit out at "disgusting humans" celebrating online.
"I am not here to defend my father's actions because I know what he did was wrong," read the post on a local Facebook page.
"Just bear in mind that to you's (sic) my father was a cop killer, but to me that's still my father who raised me to be the man I am today."
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