Visibly emotional Alpine Shire mayor extends condolences to loved ones of ‘tragically killed’ officers
Benita Kolovos
The mayor of the Alpine Shire, Sarah Nicholas, has just released a video statement online. In it, she said:
Today has been a day of deep sorrow and shock for our community. First and foremost, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the two police officers tragically killed in Porepunkah. Our thoughts, love, and unwavering support are with you during this incredibly painful time.
We hold our police in the highest regard. They serve with courage, compassion, and dedication, and their loss is felt profoundly across our region. We are deeply grateful for their service and commitment.
A visibly emotional Nicholas acknowledged it had been an “unsettling and emotional” day for the wider community. She continued:
Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for continuing to follow police instructions to stay safe. Your care for one another is what makes our Shire so strong. To our wonderful teachers: thank you for being a steady and calming presence for our children during today’s lockdowns. Your kindness and reassurance have made a world of difference in helping our young ones feel safe and supported.
She said all council facilities would remain closed until further notice, and a council meeting planned for tonight was cancelled.
We will keep our community informed as services resume. We are grieving together, and we will continue to support one another with compassion and care. Please stay safe.
Key events
Police union mourns ‘senseless murder of our mates’
The secretary of Victoria’s Police Association, Wayne Gatt, says its membership has been left “devastated” by the “senseless murder of our mates, colleagues and dearly loved family members”.
These brave officers went to work today like they did every day, to protect the community. Their dedication to protecting the lives of others, cost them their own.
Every officer is mourning right now, every one knows the spectre of self-sacrifice that follows police officers on every job they attend in every shift they work. They will be supporting each other and grieving as one as they try to make sense of this tragedy.
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. And, they will rally around those families with the type of concern and care that binds the policing family.
Gatt said the loss of officers was “difficult to comprehend” and the association was assisting “all of our members involved”.
TPAV … will provide any and all support to the families of our fallen members and their colleagues.
Benita Kolovos
Local MP calls deaths of officers ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘senseless’ acts
I’ve just spoken with the Ovens Valley MP, Tim McCurdy, whose electorate takes in Porepunkah. He described the deaths of two police officers as heartbreaking and senseless:
It’s tragic that two police officers have been killed, absolutely heartbreaking that this senseless act has taken place. I just feel for the families of those two police officers and the police officer who is in hospital at the moment.
They walk out their door every day not knowing what they’re going to be confronted with. And we certainly owe an enormous amount to our policemen and policewomen, and I just want to say to the families that I’m deeply sorry for their loss.
He described the area’s community as small, tight-knit and “reeling” over the shooting. McCrudy said:
Porepunkah is on the edge of Bright, and we know what a tourist mecca Bright is. What you will find is, Porepunkah has got its own identity, but it also houses a lot of the staff and the workers that work up in Bright as well. It’s only 10 minutes down the road, but it is a small, tight knit community and they’ll be reeling.
I’ve been speaking to different locals today. It’s still unfolding as we know, so until we actually get it done to a cessation, it’s still pretty scary out there for them … We need it to end tonight before it gets dark, hopefully and get to a conclusion, and then we can start to unravel what’s happened.
Victoria’s chief police commissioner to address media, alleged offender remains at large
Mike Bush, Victoria’s chief police commissioner, will address the media from Wangaratta at 6pm AEST in the first major update since the shooting unfolded late this morning.
In a statement, Victoria police separately confirmed two on duty officers had been shot and killed. They were among 10 police who attended a property on Rayner Track, shortly after 10.30am today, police said:
Two officers were fatally shot and a third was seriously injured after being shot in the lower body. At this time no other officers have been physically injured, however they remain at the property. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are still being determined and it remains an active and ongoing situation.
Victoria police said it was believed the alleged offender had since left the property. As of this afternoon, his whereabouts remained unknown.
A significant search is actively underway to locate the man. We urge the public in and around the township of Porepunkah to remain indoors until further notice. We also ask people not to travel into the area.
Detectives from the Homicide Squad will investigate the incident and will attend the scene along with detectives from the Armed Crime Squad and Fugitive Squad. Police from the Special Operations Group and Critical Incident Response Team also remain on scene.
Benita Kolovos
Victoria police chief commissioner says ‘all specialist resources’ deployed in hunt for alleged shooter
Victoria police have released a video of the chief commissioner of police, Mike Bush, giving a statement confirming the deaths of two officers.
He said their deaths occurred about 10.30am today, when a group of 10 staff attempted to execute a search warrant. Bush said in the video:
They were fired upon. The two deceased officers are still at the scene. A third officer was seriously injured and is currently in surgery in hospital. We have deployed all specialist resources into the area to arrest the person responsible. Detectives, special operations groups are currently there looking for this person.
Bush said the deaths were a “terribly tragic” event for the police family across Australia.
I have many messages from colleagues around Australia, and in fact globally, we all feel this. My priority is to support our people out there. It’s also very important that we wrap ourselves around the friends and family and colleagues of these officers who so bravely gave their lives to support their communities.
He also urged rural communities around Bright that police were doing “everything to bring this person into custody so that your community is safe”. Bush said:
Can I please ask you just to stay at home, not go out and about at the moment, until this operation is concluded. I’m leaving now to head to the area to support our officers and support the operation. Thank you.
No arrests or charged had been laid.
Police again advise avoiding area as organisation for families of fallen officers sends ‘heartfelt condolences’
Victoria police have provided another statement confirming the incident remains “active” and that the response is continuing. People are still being told to avoid the area.
Meanwhile, Victoria Police Legacy, a not-for-profit for police families who have lost a loved one, says it is “deeply saddened” after the death of two officers.
Its board, CEO, staff, ambassadors and volunteers said in a statement:
Our heartfelt condolences to their families, work colleagues and friends. We also extend our thoughts to their injured colleague and to all those in the emergency services family who attended the tragic scene.
Porepunkah Pub to remain closed, offers meals to police on scene
Unsurprisingly, the Porepunkah Pub will not be opening to the public today.
A community notice uploaded to social media said:
Due to recent incidents in the area and following advice from Victorian Police, the Porepunkah Pub will be closed tonight. The safety of our staff, guests, and community is our priority.
We’ll provide updates as more information becomes available and look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Stay safe, The Porepunkah Pub Team
The pub is located less than 5km from the rural property where the shooting took place, close to the centre of town on the banks of the Ovens River.
The team also confirmed they had offered to prepare meals for police officers on the scene.
Almost all students collected from Porepunkah primary school
Almost all students at Porepunkah primary school have returned home, its principal, Jill Gillies, has confirmed.
Speaking on ABC Melbourne, Gillies said it had been a “massive day” for students and staff, while adding they had “coped really well” to keep things as calm as possible.
The kids are almost all off site. A few of the staff members’ kids are still with their parents, but otherwise everyone’s home, safe and sound … It’s been quite an ordeal.
Four students who live in the area “affected by the incident” remain at the school at this stage, she said.
We were just given instruction that we could start having students collected – the students that are the local ones, that live in the area affected by the incident, are still with us.
Visibly emotional Alpine Shire mayor extends condolences to loved ones of ‘tragically killed’ officers
Benita Kolovos
The mayor of the Alpine Shire, Sarah Nicholas, has just released a video statement online. In it, she said:
Today has been a day of deep sorrow and shock for our community. First and foremost, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the two police officers tragically killed in Porepunkah. Our thoughts, love, and unwavering support are with you during this incredibly painful time.
We hold our police in the highest regard. They serve with courage, compassion, and dedication, and their loss is felt profoundly across our region. We are deeply grateful for their service and commitment.
A visibly emotional Nicholas acknowledged it had been an “unsettling and emotional” day for the wider community. She continued:
Thank you for your patience, your understanding, and for continuing to follow police instructions to stay safe. Your care for one another is what makes our Shire so strong. To our wonderful teachers: thank you for being a steady and calming presence for our children during today’s lockdowns. Your kindness and reassurance have made a world of difference in helping our young ones feel safe and supported.
She said all council facilities would remain closed until further notice, and a council meeting planned for tonight was cancelled.
We will keep our community informed as services resume. We are grieving together, and we will continue to support one another with compassion and care. Please stay safe.
Adeshola Ore
Caravan park near Porepunkah shooting site in ‘indefinite’ lockdown
Emily White, a manager at Mount Buffalo caravan park, says the site is in lockdown.
White, whose family also manages the nearby Riverview caravan park, said police had told everyone to remain at the site.
We have been told we can’t go out. No one came come in.
We don’t know how long. It’s indefinite right now.
White said a nearby checkpoint, about 500m from the Mount Buffalo Caravan Park, could only be passed by police officers.
Meanwhile, the ABC is reporting that parents are able to pick up their children from Porepunkah primary school, which had been in lockdown since this morning.
Almost two dozen police cars at site of shooting as helicopter conducts search, airfield officer says
Earlier, we reported that Porepunkah airfield was closed due to the emergency response. Its airfield active reporting officer, Mark Simpson, appeared on ABC Melbourne radio earlier to provide an update on the unfolding situation.
He said from his location, at a roundabout near the incident site, en route to the airfield, he could see about 15 stationary police cars and seven or eight undercover police cars.
The roundabout also leads into the nearby township of Mount Buffalo.
A helicopter continued to search the area, Simpson said. He has been told to remain put.
[The helicopter] has taken off from the airfield, been refuelled and is still searching for a person.
Adeshola Ore
One person treated for ‘serious lower body injuries’, Ambulance Victoria confirms.
Ambulance Victoria has released a statement about its response to the Porepunkah shooting.
A spokesperson confirmed paramedics were at the scene.
Paramedics have treated one person for serious lower body injuries and transported [them] by air ambulance in a stable condition.
Porepunkah airfield closed due to ‘emergency response’
The Porepunkah airfield has confirmed it has been closed due to the ongoing “emergency response”. Police and emergency services still have access.
The airfield is situated two nautical miles south of the Porepunkah township, east of Mt. Buffalo national park. It is usually home to general and recreational aircraft, trikes, sailplanes, paramotors and radio-controlled models.
Earlier, the airfield active reporting officer, Mark Simpson, told Guardian Australia he was stuck at the roundabout near the incident amid about 10 police vehicles, as the road heading south had been blocked off.
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.
