A gunman opened fire on police Tuesday at a rural Australian property in a ‘horrific’ confrontation that killed two officers and wounded a third.
Police launched a major hunt for the man, who fled into the bush after the shooting in the town of Porepunkah in northeast Victoria, senior officers said.
‘The suspect for this horrific event is still at large,’ Victoria state police chief commissioner Mike Bush said.
‘We know that the person is heavily armed. We know that they are dangerous,’ he told a news conference.
Bush said the outburst of gunfire, which occurred ‘over minutes’, killed a 59-year-old detective and a 35-year-old senior constable.
‘They were met by the offender and they were murdered in cold blood,’ he said.
Another detective was wounded.
‘He has been shot and is currently in surgery being treated. His injuries are not life threatening.’
Ten police had descended on the property in the morning to execute a search warrant when the gunfire broke out, Bush said.
‘He was heavily armed and he was able to escape into the bush,’ the police chief said.
‘I do understand that he was pursued but he was able to get away on foot,’ he added.
The gunman apparently fled by himself without his partner and two children, who had yet to be located.
Hours after the encounter, Bush said the bodies of the two dead police officers were still at the scene.
‘Our priority is to arrest him to ensure that he’s held to account for the actions, but also very much to bring safety and security to this community,’ he said.
‘The public should remain inside. He is obviously a very dangerous person and he needs to be caught. And that’s why we’ve committed every resource to do that.’
Deadly shootings are relatively rare in Australia, with police fatalities even rarer.
A ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons has been in place since a 1996 mass shooting in Port Arthur, Tasmania, in which a lone gunman killed 35 people.
Alpine Shire mayor Sarah Nicholas said it had been a day of ‘deep sorrow and shock’ for the community.
‘We are grieving together, and we will continue to support one another with compassion and care,’ she said in a video message on social media, her voice breaking with emotion.
The mayor offered condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the fallen police.
Schoolchildren had been kept inside during the incident, the mayor said.
‘To our wonderful teachers, thank you for being a steady and calming presence for our children during today’s lockdowns,’ Nicholas said.
‘Your kindness and reassurance have made a world of difference in helping our young ones feel safe and supported.’
All council facilities were closed until further notice, she said.
A local caravan park manager, Emily White, said it was a jarring experience for a usually quiet town.
‘It’s really terrifying that this has happened in our community where we’ve always felt so safe,’ she told national broadcaster ABC.
Police said homicide squad detectives would investigate the shooting and attend the scene along with the armed crime squad and fugitive squad.
Ambulance Victoria said its paramedics were dispatched to the scene.
‘We stand united in shock and sadness after today’s tragic incident in Porepunkah,’ it said in a statement.
‘We are wrapping our arms around our own at this time and ensuring our paramedics and first responders who attended this incident are supported.’
