AS IT HAPPENED: Dezi Freeman shot dead after seven months on the run; Accused cop killer hiding in remote rural container, refused to surrender

That's where we'll leave today's rolling coverage, thanks for following along with us.

Double police killer Dezi Freeman was shot dead by armed police this morning after seven months on the run.

Police are yet to formally identify the body, but are confident it is Freeman.

The killer's death has brought mixed emotions for communities across Victoria.

Dezi's own son took to social media to slam "disgusting" comments celebrating his death, while those in policing circles have paid tribute to the fallen officers.

To read more about the timeline of events that led to Freeman's death, click here.

Freeman will likely be formally identified within the next 24 to 48 hours.

"The scene is still contained. The deceased is still on site," Bush said.

"We're confident of who that person is, but before we confirm it 100 per cent we want to do it forensically."

Bush confirmed police fired multiple shots towards the fugitive this morning.

"There were multiple operators that fired," he said.

Dezi Freeman confirmed his identity to Special Operations Group members at the beginning of the three-hour stand off this morning, Bush said.

"Our people have been on site for over 24 hours, we began negotiating with the deceased at about 5.30am," Bush said.

"During those negotiation, the deceased did share information to confirm who he was and it ended about three hours later."

The gun Freeman brandished when he emerged from his remote Thologolong hideout may have belonged to one of the slain police officers killed at Porepunkah on August 26, Mike Bush confirmed.

"It's quite possible the firearm that is at the scene was one of our officer's weapons. We've seen that weapon but we haven't examined the weapon as yet, " Bush said.

Whether the gun was fired by Freeman today will form part of an independent inquiry into the shooting.

"We've got mixed reports on that and we'll need to do a forensic examination of a weapon found near the deceased's body to ascertain or confirm whether shots were fired by the deceased from that weapon," Bush said.

Dezi Freeman was alone on the Thologolong property where he was confronted by police this morning.

"Over the last 24 hours, as far as we can tell, there has been no none else apart form the deceased at this property," Bush said.

Bush said police are yet to contact the owner of the property where Freeman was staying.

"We're still trying to locate and speak with that person," Bush said.

"We know who that person is but we're yet to speak with them."

Mike Bush has reiterated his confidence in Victoria Police's actions this morning, when Dezi Freeman was shot dead by officers.

"Everything I have seen, everything I have been briefed on, tells me that our officers acted appropriately," Bush said.

"It's quite clear to us now that the deceased was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully and did not take that option.

"I have seen video of the deceased leaving the building and presenting a firearm at our officers.

"That action took away any discretion our officers had to resolve this peacefully."

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush is scheduled to address the media again in about five minutes.

We'll bring you rolling updates, or you can watch a stream of the press conference live at the top of this page.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has addressed today's police operation in Thologolong.

"Today an evil man is dead. And it's over," she said.

"And it's good that this individual is no longer a threat to the Victorian community.

"But for the families of Detective Leading Senior Sergeant Neale Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, this will never be over."

Allan acknowledged the police force's grief following the deadly shooting that claimed the lives of two of their officers - and seriously injured a third - in August last year.

"The threat may be over, but for you, the mourning will never end," she said.

The shooting has "hung like a dark, dark shadow" on community of Porepunkah, and the broader north-eastern Victorian region, for many months, she said.

"That shadow has been lifted somewhat, but those memories will remain and the pain will live in these communities also."

We're now hearing more about the police operation that ended in Freeman's death this morning.

Police entered the property around 5.30am, where they used an arm from a bearcat to ram the side of a shipping container where Freeman was hiding.

He failed to come out of the container, and a tense standoff ensued.

Three hours later, members from the Special Operations Group forced open the container, where Freeman is understood to have come out wrapped in a blanket.

He was reportedly brandishing a gun he stole from one of the officers he killed in Porepunkah last year. It is unknown whether the gun was discharged.

The fugitive was then shot dead by police.

Several questions remain unanswered as police and the community grapple with Freeman's death.

The accused cop killer was armed and wrapped in a blanket when he was shot dead by police in a three-hour operation in Thologolong, north-east Victoria, just before 8.30am.

He evaded police capture for seven months.

But many are now wondering: What was Freeman doing this entire time?

And how did he survive, undetected, for so long?

Read more about the lingering questions police are still yet to answer here.