Two cops shot dead in rural Australia

[theprestige]

Got him!

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I’m surprised he was still in the area, but still a result.

Interesting. I wonder why they found it necessary to kill him. I get a 500 error from the link, so I can't check the article for details.

I assume he wasn't in the container when they shot him.

 

[Orphia Nay]

Here's the breaking story on ABC News. He was only shot about 1.5 hours ago.

Police have fatally shot fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman in Victoria's north-east

Victoria Police says he was shot by officers at a property this morning.

www.abc.net.au

 

[lionking]

There’s a 11am press conference scheduled, but I doubt details of the shooting will be given as the coroner is attending the scene.

 

[rjh01]

My prediction is that he will never be charged. He is either dead from the elements or as soon as the police see him they will shoot to kill.

This prediction was right. Now we will never learn the whole truth. Like as mentioned above, who helped him?

 

[arthwollipot]

Interesting. I wonder why they found it necessary to kill him. I get a 500 error from the link, so I can't check the article for details.

I assume he wasn't in the container when they shot him.

I'm guessing we'll find out soon. It's still a breaking story right now.

 

[Norman Alexander]

Not sure he's a sovcit. More like a prepper with a criminal history. But having shot some cops, he's in real trouble now. They won't go soft on him when they catch him.

Quoting me from 27 August last year...

 

[lionking]

The Chief Commissioner is careful about what he is saying at the press conference, but he “understands” that Freeman was armed when shot. He was also 100+km away from where he shot the police.

 

[lionking]

It has been reported that there was a stand off for some hours before the shooting and there were no other people on the property he was occupying.

 

[lionking]

There is a nearby hamlet called Thologolong with 11 occupants. It seems clear that some at least were supporting Freeman.

 

[Norman Alexander]

There is a nearby hamlet called Thologolong with 11 occupants. It seems clear that some at least were supporting Freeman.

Why does that "seem clear"?

 

[lionking]

Why does that "seem clear"?

It’s utter remoteness. There is nothing at all nearby. It’s simply an Occham’ Razor conclusion. The police are reportedly questioning all occupants in Thologolong.

 

[lionking]

This prediction was right. Now we will never learn the whole truth. Like as mentioned above, who helped him?

Just for the record, Victoria Police had a history of unjustified shooting of criminals or suspects in the 1980s (very small by world standards, but around 30 in that decade). This was largely a consequence of the murder of a number of police. Police Command changed training systems and introduced non-lethal weapons including tasers and capsicum spray. There have been very few since.

Also the Special Operations Group attended the scene. Extremely well trained disciplined. I do not believe for one second that this was some sort of police execution.

 

[Norman Alexander]

It’s utter remoteness. There is nothing at all nearby. It’s simply an Occham’ Razor conclusion. The police are reportedly questioning all occupants in Thologolong.

His hideout was on an unoccupied property quite a distance from anyone else. And he was a prepper. So it sure sounds like he had this set up himself, to be isolated and "self sufficient" for a long period. Granted, someone may have given him a lift in months ago. But equally he could have trekked there.

Regardless, it also sounds like it was suicide by cop. He was surrounded, came out armed against the SWAT team, and that was all she wrote.

 

[rjh01]

There is a nearby hamlet called Thologolong with 11 occupants. It seems clear that some at least were supporting Freeman.

This says he was at Walwa which is about 30 km away from Thologolong.

Fugitive emerged from building holding weapon before being shot dead, commissioner says – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

Edit. I agree with Norman Alexander above that he made a decision not to allow himself to be arrested.

 

[arthwollipot]

Just for the record, Victoria Police had a history of unjustified shooting of criminals or suspects in the 1980s (very small by world standards, but around 30 in that decade). This was largely a consequence of the murder of a number of police. Police Command changed training systems and introduced non-lethal weapons including tasers and capsicum spray. There have been very few since.

The old joke about the Victorian police was "Bang! Bang! Stop or I'll shoot! Damn I got it the wrong way round again!"

Just to reiterate, that was a long time ago and the Victorian police are much better than that now, and have been for quite some time.

 

[novaphile]

From reports, it would appear that he came out: "wearing a blanket, and brandishing a firearm".

Given what happened the last time he faced police, there is no way he was going to be allowed to do that again.

Neighbours reported hearing a single shot.

I would suggest that means a marksman took him out.

(i.e. a Police Officer with a higher level of training, perhaps from the Special Operations Group, using a rifle of some kind.)

 

[theprestige]

"Why didn't the marksman shoot him in the leg, or shoot the gun out of his hand?"

 

[arthwollipot]

I'm assuming that the quotes indicate that this is not a serious question?

 

[rjh01]

Shooting a gun out of a person's hand is a hollywood myth.

 

[Mojo]

Well spotted.