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

[MrJ]

Key Event
1m ago
Local school remains in lockdown
J
By Jesse Thompson

Porepunkah Primary School principal, Jill Gillies, said the school remained in lockdown.

She told ABC Radio Melbourne Afternoons she wasn't sure if students would be released on time today.

"We've had the kids in lockdown since around 10:30 this morning," Ms Gillies said.

"I know that there's a few different activities going on down there.

"I think we've got some movies, some coding. There might even be some touch typing.

"Our teachers are amazing, and kids are super resilient."

She said around 90 of their 106 students were in attendance today, and that she was keeping in close contact with students' parents.

"We're a really close-knit community, we know everyone's parents' names," Ms Gillies said.

"We have no plans [for an overnight lockdown], but we would be able to if we needed to. "We have foods and access to toilets and comfort items.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Manhunt continues in Victoria for suspected identified gunman as two officers killed — as it happened

Local communities have been asked to stay indoors and follow police advice as the search for the gunman continues into the night.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

The incident unfolded at a property on Mount Buffalo Road at Porepunkah, residents said.

A resident of the same road, Carol Lowen, said police arrived at her property at midday.

“The police came earlier and asked us to lock down. That’s what we’ve done, we’ve stayed inside,” Ms Lowen said.

“There’s police everywhere. It’s just down the road from us where it’s unfolding.

“We’re locked inside with both dogs inside. It is a bit scary.”

Her husband was cutting the car when officers arrived, she said.

“They asked him who was here, asked him to keep the keys out of the car and come inside and stay inside until further notice.

“We’ve got a son who lives down the back of our place and they asked him to lock up as well.

“I just heard now on the news he (the gunman) has got his wife and children and taken off into the bush.”

A helicopter was “virtually doing a circle over our place”, Ms Lowen added.

“Whether they’ve seen him, I don’t know. It was down very, very low, as low as he can get.

“We’ve got a property behind us as well and it (the helicopter) was virtually on his land as well.”

She was shocked to see news updates that two police had been killed and one was injured.

Locals believe it involves long-term residents of the area.

“There’s plenty of places to hide,” one told The Australian.

“He’s been here since he was a child if it is who we think it is, so he’ll know his way around.”

posted in the Australian

How scary for them

 

[MrJ]

1m ago
Helicopter appears to be searching area
Judd Boaz profile image
By Judd Boaz

Reporter Ashlee Aldridge is on the ground in Porepunkah.

She says a helicopter has just gone overhead with a member hanging out the side looking.

An armed tactical vehicle has also just gone in.

Manhunt continues in Victoria for suspected identified gunman as two officers killed — as it happened

Local communities have been asked to stay indoors and follow police advice as the search for the gunman continues into the night.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

Anyone been able to locate the area on maps?

 

[MrJ]

Key Event
1m ago

Victoria Police say situation still ongoing​

By Judd Boaz​

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Victoria Police says the situation in Porepunkah is still active:

"Victoria Police continues to respond to an incident at a property in Porepunkah," the statement said.

"This is still an active incident and we will provide more information when it's operationally safe to do so. We ask people avoid the area."

Manhunt continues in Victoria for suspected identified gunman as two officers killed — as it happened

Local communities have been asked to stay indoors and follow police advice as the search for the gunman continues into the night.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Klclevi]

Anyone been able to locate the area on maps?

Hi
here you go hope it works
Its Rayner Track Porepunkah
Its the house nearly at the end with the terracottaish roof




I only know this because I lived in the area for many many years

 

[drsleuth]

Wonder if it's here

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Looks like might be buses??

 

[MrJ]

1m ago

Mobile command centre deployed​

By Judd Boaz​

As mentioned, the situation in Porepunkah remains active, with police remaining on the scene since the first reports of a shooting at about 1pm.

A Victoria Police mobile command centre is now being deployed at the scene.

The public is advised to avoid the area until further notice.

A mobile command centre moving towards the scene (ABC News: Annie Brown)

Manhunt continues in Victoria for suspected identified gunman as two officers killed — as it happened

Local communities have been asked to stay indoors and follow police advice as the search for the gunman continues into the night.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Klclevi]

How scary for them

Yeah
Bright and Porepunkah are basically no crime areas - they do not even have full time police stations!

 

[drsleuth]

Hi
here you go hope it works
Its Rayner Track Porepunkah
Its the house nearly at the end with the terracottaish roof

Rayner Track · Porepunkah VIC 3740, Australia



I only know this because I lived in the area for many many years

Thanks , where I thought.

 

[Klclevi]

Wonder if it's here

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Looks like might be buses??

yep thats it

 

[drsleuth]

I wonder if they made their escape down the river??

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Aren't they going to have to put out a photo of this person, in case he manages to get out of the area, somehow.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I wonder if his family he lives with is totally on board with shooting police, or if they're scared of him.

I don't see a good ending for any of them.

Doesn't seem like he would just surrender.

 

[Klclevi]

I wonder if they made their escape down the river??

Pretty unlikely - the Ovens and Buckland are brutally cold this time of year (well even in summer) and very rocky - in some places you would be dealing with dangerous rocks and rapids.

I would say hes deep in bushland somewhere - lots of places to hide if you know what you are doing.

 

[Klclevi]

Aren't they going to have to put out a photo of this person, in case he manages to get out of the area, somehow.

I would say most of the locals would know absolutely who he is.

 

[Klclevi]

The Herald Sun has reported that police are using a Leonardo AW139 helicopter to scour the vast dense bushland to look for the offender.

The aircraft has an infra-red camera that detects and measures the thermal energy of objects and turns that into an electronic image.

This means a person, or people, potentially hiding in the highlands would show up a brighter colour than the trees around them, helping Tactical Flight Officers to locate them.

 

[Kemug]

I sure hope the school has some LE protection - I can imagine a very bad scenario.

 

[MrJ]

1m ago
Scene has quietened since deaths of police officers confirmed.
Judd Boaz profile image
By Judd Boaz

ABC reporter Ashlee Aldridge says a local SES team has now arrived at the scene in Porepunkah.

She says the tone of the scene has changed dramatically since the frantic first hour.

"Since the news of the deaths came through it has become quite quiet," she says.

"Police presence has thinned out.

"Helicopter is still overhead."

Manhunt continues in Victoria for suspected identified gunman as two officers killed — as it happened

Local communities have been asked to stay indoors and follow police advice as the search for the gunman continues into the night.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

Pretty unlikely - the Ovens and Buckland are brutally cold this time of year (well even in summer) and very rocky - in some places you would be dealing with dangerous rocks and rapids.

I would say hes deep in bushland somewhere - lots of places to hide if you know what you are doing.

Ok thanks. I'm sure the locals know all the nutters. Probably has a self made bunker of sorts ready for this exact situation. Just like Wiembella shootings.