MELBOURNE, Australia (AP): Australian police said officers shot Dezi Freeman dead following a three-hour standoff on Monday, seven months after authorities suspected him of killing two Australian police officers and seriously wounding a third in a remote forest region.

Authorities had not confirmed any sightings of Dezi Freeman, 56, since he allegedly opened fire on police officers who arrived at his home near Porepunkah in Victoria state, northeast of Melbourne, on Aug. 26 last year to serve a warrant. Victoria’s Chief Commissioner of Police Mike Bush made the statement on Monday.

Police fatally shot a man believed to be Freeman on Monday at a remote location near Thologolong, about a two-hour drive north of Porepunkah, according to a police statement.

“We believe it is Freeman, but we have to go through a formal identification process,” Bush told reporters in Melbourne. Police said the identification process could take up to 48 hours and may include fingerprinting.