Omega Ruston road rage killing: Massive reward offered to crack cold case murder
A $250,000 reward has been announced in the Omega Ruston murder investigation as police continue to probe the Gold Coast cold case.
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A $250,000 reward has been announced in the Omega Ruston murder investigation as police continue to probe the Gold Coast cold case.
Mr Ruston died following a suspected road rage attack at Burleigh Heads on Australia Day in 2009, where he was shot dead on the side of the Gold Coast Highway.
A reward for anyone who may have information in relation to the 32-year-old’s shooting death was today announced by Police Minister Mark Ryan.
It comes after recent developments in the case following a renewed investigation by the Homicide Cold Case Investigation Team and Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch.
Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn from the Gold Coast CIB said police were still actively probing Mr Ruston’s murder and new DNA evidence and witnesses had been identified.
“We still believe the persons directly involved in the shooting death of Omega were linked to the Gold Coast and Sydney chapters of organised crime syndicates and outlaw motorcycle gangs,” he said.
“We are aware relationships and loyalties in these gangs change, we are hopeful that the reward will encourage those people with information to come forward.”
An indemnity from prosecution would be considered for any accomplice, who is not the person who actually committed the crime, who provides information that could help crack the case.
“A $250,000 reward is now in place for information that may lead to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Omega Ruston,” Mr Ryan said.
“This announcement means any person who was involved in the crime but did not commit the offence and who comes forward and speaks with police first, is eligible for this indemnity from prosecution.
“This is worth serious consideration to anyone who has this information and has not yet come forward to police.”
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Queensland detectives earlier this month travelled to NSW as part of their investigations into the young father’s killing.
With the assistance of NSW Police Unsolved Homicide Team and NSW Water Police and Dive Squad, they conducted a search of the Parramatta River Ferry terminus in relation to a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting murder of Omega.
The same firearm was believed to have been used in a drive-by shooting in Sydney.
Examinations of the exhibits found in the Parramatta River are continuing.
MARCH 4: DETECTIVES SEARCH SYDNEY RIVER FOR WEAPON
DETECTIVES investigating the suspected road-rage shooting death of Omega Ruston on the Gold Coast 12 years ago will search a Sydney river for a gun believed to be linked to the murder.
Queensland police have travelled to Sydney following information received during the renewed investigation into the father-of-two’s death at Burleigh Heads on Australia Day, 2009.
Gold Coast and Homicide detectives, alongside New South Wales police, will on Thursday search the Parramatta River for a firearm believed to have been used in the shooting murder Mr Ruston.
Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn and NSW Police Force Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Olen are expected to address the media later this morning.
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It comes as Mr Ruston’s brother called on the “coward” shooter to “right a wrong” during a fresh appeal for information on Monday.
Detectives – who believe the killers are linked to bikie and organised crime gangs – called on those who may have helped to cover up the 2009 drive-by shooting to come forward, offering them one “last chance at redemption”.
Mr Ruston, a 32-year-old tradie, was shot and killed on the side of the Gold Coast Hwy at Burleigh Heads. It followed a suspected random road rage incident on Australia Day 12 years ago.
His brother Nick Ruston held back tears during an emotional appeal for information alongside his family on Monday in which he labelled the shooter as a “coward”.
“If you’re remaining silent due to some sense of allegiance or loyalty please know that the man you’re protecting is a coward. To the man that shot Omega: The opportunity to right your wrongs does not come around often,” he said.
“Your actions have taken the life of an innocent man who wanted nothing more than to return home to his family after a day of celebrations.
The family of murdered Gold Coast man Omega Ruston has joined police in appealing for information into the fatal shooting of Omega, who was killed on Australia Day 2009.
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) March 1, 2021
Anyone with information is urged to come forward. https://t.co/J1voV4b7jBpic.twitter.com/QaPq2RGZ3i
“My brother will not grow old, but you will grow old ¬forever as a coward. Do the right thing and turn yourself in before it’s too late.”
Police said the father-of-two was leaving Australia Day celebrations at North Burleigh when his ute was believed to have been cut off in traffic by a small four-door maroon sedan at Miami.
The man got into a verbal exchange with the group travelling in the maroon sedan, while both cars were driving south on the Gold Coast Hwy.
Mr Ruston pulled over not far from the McDonald’s restaurant at Burleigh Heads, nearby 5th Ave, around 10.25pm.
Police said Mr Ruston and another passenger got out of the ute and approached the maroon sedan. Witnesses said the sedan had stopped behind the father-of-two’s vehicle, ¬before driving forward.
Two shots were fired from the rear passenger-side window of the maroon sedan, with one striking Mr Ruston in the stomach.
He died at the scene, even though two friends tried to save his life.
Witnesses reported seeing three men of Middle Eastern appearance in the maroon vehicle, one of whom was brandishing a black semiautomatic style pistol, police said.
Gold Coast Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said police believed those directly involved in the 2009 shooting death were linked to Gold Coast and Sydney chapters of outlaw motorcycle gangs and Sydney crime syndicates.
Two men have previously been named as persons of interest in court documents, but Insp Ahearn would not comment on suspects in the case.
Police said on Monday new witnesses from NSW and Queensland had come forward, and others had been identified, who held crucial evidence relating to the shooting death.
It comes after homicide detectives and Gold Coast police commenced a full review of the unsolved murder last year.
Police have been probing the case in recent months, leading to significant forensic breakthroughs in the investigation.
Those include new DNA, fingerprint and ballistics ¬evidence, Insp Ahearn said.
Insp Ahearn said police were also investigating a number of people as accessories after the fact to murder – a charge which carries a penalty of life behind bars.
He said officers believe people with links to Gold Coast and Sydney outlaw motorcycle gangs and Sydney-based crime syndicates provided assistance to the persons of interest – helping them to cover their tracks following Mr Ruston’s killing.
Insp Ahearn said OMCG members and their associates in Queensland and NSW might hold crucial information, which could help solve the crime.
He called on them to come forward, saying this could be their final chance at “redemption”.
“We are aware relationships and loyalties in these gangs change, so we are encouraging those people with information to come forward as now may be your last chance at redemption,” Insp Ahearn said.
“This was a horrific crime, committed on a busy road with potentially many people nearby given the Australia Day public holiday, so we are further encouraging anyone in the area at the time with even the seemingly smallest piece of information to contact us.”
Details of the police investigation into Mr Ruston’s death were previously made public by the Queensland Supreme Court in 2012.
Court documents from the time show the friend, who was travelling in the car with Mr Ruston, told police the rear passenger door of the maroon car was open and he saw “a ‘Lebanese’ male described as mid 20s, short greased blacked hair, olive complexion, and muscular build wearing a tight white T-shirt” inside.
“This male person was holding what appeared to be a black handgun, possibly a semi or automatic firearm,” a court judgment said.
“ … He observed the ‘Lebanese’ male seated in the rear passenger seat place a black handgun out through the three quarter open rear passenger window. The male person rested his wrist on the window and fired two consecutive shots at the deceased. The suspects’ vehicle then continued driving south down the Gold Coast Hwy.”
If you have any information contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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