A major search is ongoing for a man who fatally shot two police officers and seriously injured another in Porepunkah, a rural town located about 300 kilometers northeast of Melbourne. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday when a group of 10 officers arrived at a property on Rayner Track to execute a search warrant.

The gunman opened fire, killing two officers and injuring a third, who is currently undergoing surgery. Authorities believe the suspect may be traveling with his wife and children. Police Commissioner Mike Bush stated, "We have deployed all specialist resources into the area to arrest the person responsible. This is a terribly tragic event for the police family, not just here but across the country. We all feel this."

The alleged shooter is thought to be a sovereign citizen, according to police sources who were not authorized to speak publicly. In response to the shooting, hundreds of officers have been dispatched to the area, and a police helicopter is conducting aerial searches. Local residents, numbering around 1,000, have been advised to stay indoors, and those in nearby areas are urged to avoid the vicinity.

Reddy Gopi, a worker at a local post office and fuel station, described the atmosphere as tense. "Everyone is in a bit of a panic," he said. "There were 200 to 300 policemen searching here, and we've got a helicopter in the Porepunkah and Bright areas searching everywhere, and they've closed pretty much all the roads." He noted that the streets were eerily quiet, likening the scene to a ghost town.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences, stating, "The men and women who wear our uniform and wear the uniform of the police force take risks each and every day." Wayne Gatt, Secretary of the Police Association Victoria, called the incident a "senseless murder" that has left officers mourning. He added, "They will go home and hug their families tighter than usual, in the sad and sobering knowledge that two of their colleagues lost that privilege in service of the community."

In the wake of the shooting, local schools, including Porepunkah Primary School and Bright P-12 College, were placed on lockdown. Parents were later allowed to pick up their children at the end of the school day. All council buildings in the Alpine Shire Council and Porepunkah Airfield have been closed until further notice. Mayor Sarah Nicholas expressed her sorrow, stating it was a day of deep shock for the community.

Mark Simpson, an officer at the airfield, reported that emergency services were setting up tents and using the airfield to refuel helicopters as the search continued. "It's quite traumatic. Police officers go to work, they've got to do their job, and they expect to go home," he said.

The incident has resonated across the nation, with Police Federation of Australia President Kevin Morton expressing shock at the "callous murder" of the two officers. Australian Federal Police Association President Alex Caruana stated that their members stand in solidarity with their Victorian counterparts. Premier Jacinta Allan commended the bravery of the officers, while opposition leader Brad Battin acknowledged the risks police face daily.

This tragedy marks the largest loss of police life in Victoria since the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash, which resulted in the deaths of four officers. In recent years, other incidents involving police fatalities have also raised concerns, including the ambush of two Queensland officers and a neighbor in 2022 and the shooting of Tasmanian officer Keith Smith in June.