Porepunkah Police Shooting: Inside Australia’s Largest Manhunt and Its Impact on a Rural Community

Tragic Incident Shakes Rural Victoria

The Porepunkah police shootings occurred on the morning of 26 August 2025 in Porepunkah, Victoria, when Victoria Police were executing a warrant against Dezi Bird Freeman, a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen known to police.

Two Victoria Police officers were killed and a third was injured in the incident, which led to Freeman fleeing into bushland, prompting a manhunt involving hundreds of police officers, with support from the Australian Defense Force.

The Victims and Community Response

Senior Constable Vadim De Waart-Hottart, who had recently arrived at Wangaratta from the public order response team, was described as an eternal optimist by colleagues and was fluent in four languages. The funerals of De Waart-Hottart and Thompson were held on 5 and 8 September 2025 at the Victoria Police Academy in Glen Waverley, with more than 1000 mourners in attendance.

Ongoing Manhunt

The search area around Porepunkah is challenging, with dense bush, cliffs, and valleys. The area is also riddled with thousands of long-abandoned mineshafts and tunnels that offer instant cover from search helicopters and drones.

Freeman’s family has described him as a prepper, someone primed for disaster and living ready for the day when everything goes wrong. According to one relative, “He has been prepping for doomsday all his life. A comet, WW3, whatever that might be. And when that day was to come he would live in the mountains.”

Impact on Local Community

The massive hunt has significantly impacted the popular tourist region, with residents and tourists told to limit movements through the area. Local operators report a 60% loss of income since the search started, according to the Bright and District Chamber of Commerce. Local restaurants and accommodation operators have reported mass cancellations and been forced to cut casual shifts, with one business AU$10,000 out of pocket.

Authorities’ Response

Police are offering up to a $1M reward for information on Freeman’s whereabouts that leads to his arrest – the largest ever offered in Victoria for an arrest. Police believe he may be getting help from others, with Superintendent Brett Kahan stating, “People know the whereabouts of the person who has killed two cops. You are committing an extremely serious crime by harbouring or assisting in the escape of Dezi Freeman.”