Freeman was fatally shot by special operations officers at a secluded property near Walwa around 8:30 am, after he appeared draped in a blanket and wielding a stolen firearm.
Bruce Evans, a close acquaintance of the fugitive, revealed he hadn’t been in touch with Freeman since his escape into the thick bushland. Freeman had fled after fatally shooting two police officers in Victoria’s high country on August 26.
Evans shared with 9News that he had speculated Freeman might have been killed by the police “from the very first day.”
“It’s an incredibly sad day for everyone involved, especially the family,” Evans remarked.
“Honestly, I assumed he was dead, but clearly, I was mistaken,” he added.
“He was facing the prospect of life in prison or going out in a blaze of glory, and it seems he opted for the latter,” he concluded.
Evans said he did not condone Freeman’s actions in Porepunkah but believed the fugitive was “pretty fearless” and was not shocked his fate was sealed in another shooting.
“It’s not surprising to me that it went down this way in the end,” he said.
“He’s not the sort of guy that backs down, you know.”
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush earlier today said officers “acted appropriately” during today’s police operation.
“Everything I have seen, everything I have been briefed on, tells me that our officers acted appropriately,” Bush said.
“It’s quite clear to us now that the deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully and did not take that option.
“I have seen video of the deceased leaving the building and presenting a firearm at our officers.
“That action took away any discretion our officers had to resolve this peacefully.”
Evans said he was not surprised by reports police were led to Freeman’s hideout by a tip-off from one of the self-described sovereign citizen’s associates.
“You dangle a million dollars in front of people and there’s going to be a lot of people that take that sort of money,” Evans said.
“You couldn’t hide forever. It’s always going to get out somehow.”
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