Australian police told an on-the-run gunman accused of killing two officers to "lay down your firearms" Friday, as they hunted him for a fourth day in rugged, forested bushland.

The heavily armed 56-year-old suspect, Dezi Freeman, fled into the bush Tuesday after opening fire on a team of 10 police officers at his home in the northeast of Victoria state.

The "horrific" shooting in the rural town of Porepunkah killed 59-year-old detective Neal Thompson and 35-year-old senior constable Vadim De Waart, police said.

A third officer was wounded in the lower body and was scheduled to undergo surgery for a second time, but was expected to recover, they said.

"The number one priority for the Victoria police is the hunt for this murderer," state police chief commissioner Mike Bush told a news c

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