A wanted man – now confirmed as Desmond Freeman – was shot dead after a standoff at a rural property in Thologolong on Monday as part of the operation to locate the fugitive after seven months at large.

The shooting occurred at the property shortly after 8.30am following an impasse with police including members of the Special Operations Group and detectives from Taskforce Summit.

Police attended the property at around 5.30am and almost three hours later 56-year-old Freeman emerged from a shipping container he had been living in and allegedly shot at police who returned fire, fatally wounding the man. Police rendered assistance however the man died at the scene.

The State Coroner attended the scene on Tuesday and the investigation will be oversighted by Professional Standards Command, as per standard procedure following a police shooting.

Police are now investigating whether Freeman had assistance in eluding police after killing two policemen at Porepunkah last August.

A phone call from Freeman to an associate, telling them that he had “f—ed up” was intercepted by police in the days following the murders.

Police say that mobile phones found at the scene of the shootout on Monday may be crucial in finding out how Freeman survived his 216 days on the run. They will be particularly looking for contact he may have had with others about his whereabouts.

This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 2 April 2026.