Australian authorities have placed a record A$1 million ($650,000) bounty on the capture of 56-year-old fugitive gunman Dezi Freeman, who has been on the run for nearly two weeks following the fatal shooting of two police officers in Victoria.

Since the tragic incident on August 26, more than 450 police officers have been deployed across the mountainous terrain of Victoria state in one of the most extensive operations in the region’s history.

Freeman, who was previously known as Desmond Filby, is alleged to have opened fire on a team of ten police officers, including members of the sexual offences and child investigation unit as they executed a search warrant at his rural property. The ambush left two officers dead and a third injured.

Believed to possess advanced bushcraft skills and access to multiple high-powered firearms, Freeman has been described by local media as a “sovereign citizen,” a term used for individuals who reject government authority.

Victoria police released a statement emphasizing their determination to bring him in alive: “As part of the effort to locate Freeman and bring him into custody peacefully and safely, police are offering a reward of up to $1m for information on his whereabouts that leads to his arrest. This reward represents the largest ever offered in Victoria for an arrest.”

Authorities believe Freeman may be hiding in the remote high country near Porepunkah, roughly 300 km (200 miles) northeast of Melbourne. However, they have not ruled out the possibility that he is receiving assistance or that he may have already died by suicide.

The manhunt has cast a long shadow over Victoria. Premier Jacinta Allan publicly paid tribute to the fallen officers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, 35.

She described their deaths as “a devastating loss” and praised the tireless efforts of police in what she called a “huge operation” to ensure justice is served.

With a historic A$1 million reward on the table, police hope the public will come forward with crucial information to end the standoff and ensure no further loss of life. For now, the state remains on edge as the search for one of Victoria’s most wanted fugitives continues.