The seven-month manhunt for Dezi Freeman ended in a hail of bullets outside his hiding place in north east Victoria, with police understood to have shot him up to 20 times during the tense stand-off.

Police fired multiple shots at the fugitive as he emerged from the caravan-cross-shipping container at a rural property in Thologolong, wielding a gun stolen from one of the slain officers in Porepunkah.

Special Operations Group members had spent three hours at the property attempting to negotiate a peaceful surrender with Freeman before multiple shots were fired.

Dezi Freeman has been found and killed after a long and tireless search. (A Current Affair)

While Freeman was armed, Victoria’s Chief Commissioner Mike Bush was unable to confirm earlier this week if he had discharged the gun at officers.

Investigators had been tracking a car coming and going from 56-year-old Freeman’s hideout before he was killed in a shootout about 8.30am on Monday, 9News understands.

9News has been told officers had been surveilling Freeman for several days after watching the car, which repeatedly made the almost 200-kilometre trip between Porepunkah and Thologolong, located on the Victoria-NSW border.

Investigators had been tracking a car coming and going from 56-year-old Freeman’s hideout. (9News)

Detectives used traffic cameras to track the vehicle completing the trip several times, which led them to Freeman’s hideout.

Freeman’s body has been taken to Melbourne to be examined by the state coroner, who will hold independent review into his death.

A formal identification of his body is still under way.

Police are expected to remain on scene in Thologolong for several days, combing the property for any evidence of other people at the property.

Investigators are now looking at whether Freeman was assisted by anyone during his time on the run.

Officers had been surveilling Freeman for several days before the tense standoff on Monday. (9News)

Police have asserted it would have been very difficult for the fugitive to remain hidden for so long without help.

Anyone who may have helped harbour Freeman, or transported him from Porepunkah to Thologolong, could face up to 20 years in prison.

“We’re going to track backwards, work backwards from yesterday and find out to work out who did assist him and those people, when identified, will be held to account,” Bush said.