Porepunkah shooting: Two officers dead and another wounded after shooting at High Country property, Victoria, Australia

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  • #41
seven news posted 17 mins ago
 
  • #42
Key Event
5m ago
Shooter still on the run
Judd Boaz profile image
By Judd Boaz

The ABC can confirm that the shooter is still at large and has not yet been captured by police.

Tactical vehicles and a helicopter are on the scene near Porepunkah, along with dozens of police officers.

Two police officers are confirmed dead, with another injured.


4m ago
'We will be on the map for a tragedy': Porepunkah resident
By Daniel Miles

Colin McCormack is a farmer from the Buckland Valley, around six kilometres from Porepunkah.

He told ABC Radio Melbourne his wife was locked down in Porepunkah after travelling into town for a haircut.

"She's staying with my son down at Porepunkah, he was the one that alerted me to it," Mr McCormack said.

"I was down in the shed. He told me to get out of the shed and go home because there was an active shooter in the area."

Mr McCormack said the police helicopter had circled low around his home and shed and was still flying around two kilometres from his property.

He said he'd spoken to several Porepunkah locals throughout the day.

"We feel pretty safe, or I do anyway," he told ABC Radio Melbourne Afternoons.

"Everybody is extremely worried and I've had phone calls [from others], we don't want to be known for a tragedy like this," he said.

"Porepunkah … we will be on the map for a tragedy, which is unfortunate."


Key Event
2m ago
Camouflaged police now deployed
Judd Boaz profile image
By Judd Boaz

ABC News reporter Erin Somerville is reporting live from the scene.

She told ABC Radio Melbourne police in camouflage had been seen in the area.

"[It's] quite different to what the officers here on the side of the road are wearing, so we understand there's a range of tactical responses being deployed," she said.

"We understand police dogs will also be here."

She said a number of tourists were potentially unaware of the situation at Mount Buffalo, which is a popular spot with skiers.

"This is the end of the [snow] season, so many people are still up here trying to make the most of the last snow up Mount Buffalo," she said.


 
  • #43
The Special Operations Group has been deployed to the incident after being flown to the scene in helicopters.

The gunman is believed to have fled into the mountains and a major police operation is under way to locate him.

Porepunkah, which is a gateway to the Victorian Alps and the ski fields, sits on the Great Alpine Road, at the foot of Mount Buffalo. It has a population of about 1000.

The area is rife with deer hunters and the remnants of the old tobacco industry, which morphed into – in parts – the illegal production of marijuana after tobacco growing was outlawed.

All over the area are old tobacco kilns and there is forest, bush and camping areas everywhere. It is near the Buckland River, which flows through the town.

Porepunkah is popular with tourists, especially in summer, where the river is a relief from the often-baking conditions.

Rayner Track, where the shootings reportedly happened, is only a short drive from town but there are hundreds of roads and tracks the killer may have fled down.

If he is on foot, then the police task will be much easier because of looming rain over the next three days of up to 30mm each day although this would impede vehicle traffic.

as per the Australian.
 
  • #44
I wouldn't take it as certain that everyone in the area knows what this person looks like.

Some would know, but some might not have even kept up with the news yet, or not in enough detail to know who this person is.

And then there's people passing by the area. They most likely would not know him

Some would know of him, but not what he looked like.

There may be people camping, or hiking.


I hope they get him soon.
 
  • #45
3m ago
Still no confirmation of when we'll hear from police
Judd Boaz profile image
By Judd Boaz

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Victorian Police Commissioner would provide further detail on the shooting at some stage in the afternoon.

As of yet, Victoria Police cannot tell the ABC when or where that press conference will be.

However, it said there is likely to be one within the next two hours.

We will keep you updated on the facts as they come to hand.


 
  • #46

ABC News reporter Erin Somerville is reporting live from the scene.

She said a number of tourists were potentially unaware of the situation at Mount Buffalo, which is a popular spot with skiers.

"This is the end of the [snow] season, so many people are still up here trying to make the most of the last snow up Mount Buffalo," she said.
 
  • #47
2m ago
'Whole town is in lockdown,' Porepunkah local says
By Daniel Miles

ABC Radio listener Leigh said his family was locked down in Porepunkah.

"Apparently the whole town is in lockdown," he told ABC Radio Melbourne.

"My 15-year-old grandson is in lockdown in Myrtleford at school… it's scary stuff."

Leigh told the ABC he believed authorities were using loudspeakers to communicate with Porepunkah residents.

 
  • #48
4m ago15.00 AEST

Nick Visser
To recap, here’s what we know so far:

  • The police were attending a rural property about 300km north-east of Melbourne on Tuesday to serve a warrant.
  • Two officers have been killed and another wounded.
  • Wangaratta police said there was still an “active incident” and have urged people to avoid the area.
  • The local council closed all council facilities “effective immediately” and Porepunkah primary school remained in lockdown.
  • Victorian premier Jacinta Allan said the thoughts of “all Victorians” were with the police, saying the response showed first responders’ “extraordinary bravery and courage”.
  • Prime minister Anthony Albanese said his thoughts were with the “police for the work they do, each and every day”. He said “the men and women who wear the uniform of the police take risks” for everyone.
  • The ABC has reported a strong police presence in the area, with around 50 officers in uniform and plain clothes in the vicinity. A police dog was also reportedly on site.

 
  • #49
How far away is Myrtleford?
 
  • #50
  • #51
Key Event
1m ago
What is the latest on the Porepunkah shooting?
Judd Boaz profile image
By Judd Boaz

Here is what we know so far:

An active shooter situation remains ongoing near the Victorian town of Porepunkah.
Authorities attended the scene about 1pm on Tuesday afternoon.
Two police officers are confirmed dead and another is injured.
Victoria Police report that the shooter is still on the run and has not yet been brought into custody.
Dog squads, armoured vehicles and camouflaged tactical teams have been deployed.
The local council has closed all its facilities and nearby schools have been locked down as a result of the incident.
We are expecting an update from police in the next two hours.


 
  • #52
Do we know if he is on foot, or what?
 
  • #53
6m ago15.14 AEST
Helicopter continuing to circle over Porepunkah, police reportedly on scene in camouflage gear

ABC Goulburn Murray reporter Erin Somerville is speaking to ABC Melbourne radio to provide an update from the scene, which she says is “eerily still”.

There are still dozens of police here at Porepunkah on a major tourist roundabout … We’ve recently in the last hour seen a very big, large, armoured police vehicle pass by, heading towards Mount Buffalo, we’ve also seen a number of police cars head down to a paddock towards the mountains.


It’s very steep, very dense, very mountainous terrain … We still currently have a helicopter circling above a paddock just across the road from a very popular caravan park … into the foothills which lead into Mount Buffalo …


We also have a range of tactical support that have come in … We have what appear to be undercover police officers as well.


We also saw one or two police officers who were wearing what looked like camouflage gear.
Somerville said hikers had disappeared “for days” in the landscape who had “wanted to be found”, so thick was the terrain.

 
  • #54
  • #55
Do we know if he is on foot, or what?
unclear not much coming out still they are reporting he has taken his wife and two kids with him as well
:(
if they are they could not be moving too fast. plus it will be starting to get seriously cold now outside so yeah :(
 
  • #56
Please don't let any more people be killed - or any wonderful police dogs.
 
  • #57
Key Event
2m ago
Shooter still 'on the run' and 'heavily armed'
D
By Daniel Miles
ABC Radio breakfast presenter Sharnelle Vella, a former police reporter, has joined Ali Moore with the latest on the Porepunkah shooting.

She told ABC Radio Melbourne her police contacts believe the shooter is a "sovereign citizen" and that police were serving a warrant from the sexual crimes squad, known as SOCIT.

"That man is on the run and he is heavily armed," Ms Vella said.

"There are two police choppers in the air, we know one is using thermal imaging to try and map out the location."
She said police had also deployed negotiators to the area.

"My understanding is that the person they went to speak to was living on a bus in that community area," she said.
 
  • #58
Here's the alleged shooter: Dezi Bird Freeman - his wife Mali is a music teacher. 2 sons.

https%3A%2F%2Fprod.static9.net.au%2F_%2Fmedia%2F2018%2F11%2F20%2F18%2F34%2FFA3.JPG



'Full-out war': Chainsaw, dirt bikes in neighbour feud

IMO.
 
  • #59
Key Event
2m ago
Shooter still 'on the run' and 'heavily armed'
D
By Daniel Miles
ABC Radio breakfast presenter Sharnelle Vella, a former police reporter, has joined Ali Moore with the latest on the Porepunkah shooting.

She told ABC Radio Melbourne her police contacts believe the shooter is a "sovereign citizen" and that police were serving a warrant from the sexual crimes squad, known as SOCIT.


She said police had also deployed negotiators to the area.




He's taken his wife and children into the mountain. I really hope he doesn't murder/suicide :(
IMO
 
  • #60
Is there a link to where the shooters name is confirmed.

So far I haven't seen any.
 
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