A reported single gunshot has sparked a fresh line of inquiry in the long-running manhunt for alleged police killer Dezi Freeman.
Police conducted “firearms testing” near Barrett Lane and Rayner Track in Porepunkah, about 300km northeast of Melbourne in Victoria’s northeast, on Wednesday as part of their search.
Reports of a gunshot heard around 11:45 a.m. on August 26 prompted authorities to initiate firearms testing in the area.
Freeman had allegedly opened fire on police moments earlier, killing Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and wounding a third officer.
They were among 10 officers serving a warrant at Freeman’s Porepunkah home when allegedly confronted about 10.30am.
“The area has since been searched by police, however no trace of Freeman was located,” Victoria Police said in a statement on Sunday.
“Investigators remain optimistic that the results of the firearms testing will aid in the police’s continuing investigation,” stated officials.
Police want to speak to anyone who may have heard the gunshot, including any members of the public who may have been in the area at the time and believe they could be the person responsible.
There have been no confirmed sightings of Freeman since he fled into dense bushland, despite detectives investigating more than 1,700 tip-offs.
Hundreds of officers and specialist resources, including interstate and international crews, have scoured the area and surrounds.
By September, the search efforts had been reduced to involve over 200 officers, and Mount Buffalo National Park was reopened to visitors in late October.
Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has previously said police were working off several possible scenarios.
“Is he still alive? We don’t know. Is he alive and still in the area? We have no real information to suggest that,” Bush told reporters on October 13.
“Or has he been unable to leave the area and is being looked after by others? We don’t know.
“These are all considered assumptions and possibilities, and we are preparing resources to address each of them,” officials added.
Victoria Police has offered a $1 million reward and the possibility of indemnity for information leading to Freeman’s capture, the largest reward in the state’s history for facilitating an arrest.
People in the area have been advised to remain vigilant and not approach the fugitive, who is considered armed and dangerous.
