Hunt for injured man following Comanchero bikie Shane Ross’ death
Police are searching for an injured man who was seen walking on the road where a bikie and his friend were killed just over a kilometre apart.
The death of a Comanchero bikie in the Gold Coast and the mysterious fatal accident that killed his friend are being treated as a double murder investigation, as police hunt for a third man who was seen near the crash site.
Shane Ross, a member of the outlaw motorcycle club, was last seen leaving Pimpama tavern at about 7pm on Friday in a dark coloured vehicle with his friend and business partner Cameron Martin.
Just two hours later Mr Martin, 47, was involved in a car accident that saw his white Mercedes crash into a tree on Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Burleigh Heads.
He was found dead inside the vehicle.
That same night Mr Ross’s wife rang his lawyer to say the 47-year-old was missing.
Mr Ross’ body was found at about 1.30pm yesterday near the bridge on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Tallebudgera Creek Rd, just one and a half kilometres from where Mr Martin died.
Nine News reported Mr Ross was found with a gunshot wound to the head.
Police are also hunting for a “person of interest” who was seen walking on the side of Tallebudgera Creek Rd at about 9.30pm on Friday, not far from the crash site.
Witnesses said the man appeared to be injured.
Anyone with information about this man is urged to contact police.
Queensland Police Detective Superintendent Kerry Johnson said both deaths are being treated as suspicious and police are working to figure out what occurred in that two hour time period.
“Earlier in the evening they were together and they have both been found dead within about a kilometre and a half of each other. It is being treated as a double murder investigation,” he said.
“There is about a two hour period there that obviously forms part of our inquires trying to work out what happened in that timeslot.
“But they have definitely changed vehicles and at some stage obviously one met their demise at that location at Tallebudgera Creek Rd and the other person in the motor vehicle.”
Det Supt Johnson also confirmed Mr Martin was found with a puncture wound, which he described as “highly suspicious”.
“That vehicle hit a tree at a high rate of speed, so he has a number of injuries and trying to sort out what that is,” he said.
“Whether is it a stab wound, gunshot wound, puncture wound, it could be anything. There is a distinctive wound on him and we’ll be making inquiries on that.”
BIKIE’S PLAN TO TURN LIFE AROUND
One week before a Mr Ross was found dead in Gold Coast bushland he had finalised his court matters in NSW and expressed a desire to spend time with his children.
Lawyer Ahmed Dib represented Mr at court in Sydney’s southwest last Monday when he avoided jail for four fraud offences related to luxury cars.
The vehicles were sourced by a criminal syndicate across NSW and Queensland, which altogether defrauded financial institutions of about $4.5 million.
Mr Ross celebrated that night with his wife and Mr Dib before flying home at about midday on Tuesday.
His body was found at about 1.30pm yesterday.
“Obviously it’s tragic news, I’d become close with him,” Mr Dib told news.com.au today.
“He always talked about taking his family on a holiday, how he wanted to spend more time with his kids growing up and hadn’t recently, and that he’d be allowed to by being on parole.
“He was going through a number of court matters that he’d finalised. He had nothing left.”
Mr Ross’s wife called Mr Dib on Friday to say her husband was missing and they made a joint attempt to contact people, “to see if anybody had heard anything”.
Mr Dib received another message from her yesterday after the body was found.
“It’s obviously really disappointing that once he finally had the chance to do it, that opportunity has been taken from him,” he told news.com.au.
“She’s going through a really rough period.”
Mr Dib said Mr Ross had “absolutely” been in good spirits and had not expressed any concerns about going back home to Queensland.
“Not at all, he was regularly up and down (to NSW),” he said.
Mr Ross’ family and friends had searched desperately for a sign of him across the weekend.
ALTERCATION OCCURRED
Nine News this morning reported that Mr Ross was found with a gunshot wound to his head.
“Obviously some sort of altercation has occurred and as a result, this male person is now deceased,” Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said.
Mr Ross was the founder of MONSTR clothing, and T-shirts have since been left at the scene.
A candle, t shirts and beers laid in tribute for Shane Ross who was found dead in Tallebudgera by a friend yesterday. Police investigating links to a fatal car crash nearby which killed his mate @TheTodayShow pic.twitter.com/zzk8xXYZcn
— Jess Millward (@JessMillward9) October 21, 2019
His friend Mr Martin died in a single-vehicle crash between one and one-and-a-half kilometres away.
“Just before 9.15pm (on Friday) a Mercedes Benz was travelling along Tallebudgera Creek Rd when it lost control and crashed into a tree,” police said.
“Witnesses, including an off-duty police officer, rendered assistance to the sole occupant of the vehicle prior to the arrival of emergency services.”
Mr Martin could not be saved and died at the scene.
Mr Ross’ father, Les, spoke to Nine News on Monday before his son’s body was found.
”Just want to know where he is,” he said with a wavering voice.
“It’s not like him. “Everybody (is) worried about him. We just want him back.”
Supt Smith confirmed the man found in the “long grass”, Mr Ross, was a member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang and his death was being treated as suspicious.
“The bikie lifestyle carries its own risks,” he told reporters on Monday afternoon.
“Anyone who thinks a bikie is a motorcycle enthusiast is kidding themselves. They are criminals and criminal behaviour has risks.”
Mr Ross’ injuries are not believed to have been self-inflicted.
Police divers are on scene at Martin Sheil Park, where the body of Shane Ross was found yesterday @7NewsGoldCoast @7NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/FCl3ldbNfe
— Amelia Adam (@AmeliaAdam1) October 21, 2019
Supt Smith said Mr Ross and Mr Martin were “business partners and friends” who were spotted together at a licensed venue in Pimpama earlier on Friday night.
He said they will be investigating the connection between the two scenes and “why one was here, one was there”.
“It’s not a crime of opportunity, these people are known to each other,” Supt Smith said.
“We would like to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible.”
Initial investigations indicate Mr Ross was not in the car with Mr Martin when it crashed and died in the park where his body was found.
“Given the nature of his (Mr Ross’) injury, I would suggest that it hasn’t happened elsewhere, it’s happened where it is,” Supt Smith said.
He described it as “a tragic set of circumstances”.
One woman told the Gold Coast Bulletin she heard several gunshots in the park on Friday night.
“It was two successions, like bang, bang, bang and then again,” she said.
Mr Ross was convicted on October 14 for one count of dishonestly obtaining property by deception and three counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime totalling less than $100,000.
He was sentenced at Campbelltown Local Court to 18 months in jail but was allowed to serve the prison term by way of an intensive correction order, meaning he was not to commit any offence in that time period and was required to submit to supervision by a community corrections officer at Tweed Heads.
He was also forced to forfeit a 2016 Ford Ranger vehicle and 2014 GTS Holden Commodore to NSW.
Friend of the pair, Nick Dalton, posted a tribute to Mr Martin on Facebook on Saturday.
“You made such a big impact to many of us in the car community and you will be sadly missed, my heart is completely empty mate,” he wrote.
On Sunday, Mr Dalton put a call out for any information about Mr Ross.
“If anyone has seen or heard from him after 7pm Friday night could you please make contact with me ASAP,” he wrote.
“Rossy if you’re reading this please make contact with me.”
He updated his account on Monday afternoon to announce Mr Ross “was tragically found deceased by two of his very close friends”.
“I would respectfully ask can everyone please give some space while we grieve,” Mr Dalton wrote.
“Make sure tonight you have a corona for him.”
Mr Ross’ friend Sam Shephard also paid his respects.
“Love you brother, you have always been and treated me with respect and love,” he said in a Facebook post on Monday.
“I’m so sorry for the things that had happened and how things have ended for such a beautiful soul.
“You will be incredibly missed.”
RELATED: Comanchero bikie gang founder left clinging to life
Queenslander Ryan Cobb said Mr Martin, the crash victim, had been “a genuinely nice guy”.
“Absolutely devastated to hear about the passing of Cameron Martin,” he said on Facebook.
“Was only just talking to you about the future of Monstr and Octane apparel last week.
“Rest In Peace mate.”
Tributes also poured in for Mr Martin from the Hi-Torque Performance car workshop on the Gold Coast and jetski enthusiast groups.
“Our condolence goes out to the family and friends for the loss Cameron Martin, he will be sorely missed by many including the jetski family,” Queensland Personal Watercraft Club said in a Facebook post on Monday morning.
“Thank you for all wonderful things you have done and all the help you gave to others.”
Investigations continue.
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