Several additional officers have been deployed to locate Dezi Freeman, coinciding with revelations that a fortunate turn of events might have stopped the alleged cop-killer from shooting a fourth officer in August.
The fugitive allegedly tried to open fire on a fourth officer after a warrant was served on him at his residence in Porepunkah on August 26, but the homemade firearm jammed before a bullet could be fired, 9News understands.
The new details from the shooting, first reported by the Herald Sun, revealed that Freeman, who is accused of killing police officers Neal Thompson and Vadim De Waart-Hottart and wounding a third officer, allegedly aimed a homemade shotgun at a fourth officer and pulled the trigger.
Authorities have expressed openness to various possibilities, continuing to search the area with cadaver dogs and acknowledging that Freeman might be alive and getting help from someone in the community.
Investigators have characterised Freeman, who has links to the disparate sovereign citizen movement, as a skilled outdoorsman.
A reward of $1 million is still being offered for any tips leading to his capture, and anyone with information about his location is encouraged to contact emergency services.
