Bikie found dead near site where mate was killed in crash three days earlier
A bikie has been found dead in long grass on the Gold Coast, days after a friend was killed in a single vehicle crash nearby in a mysterious set of circumstances after the two men earlier shared a beer at a nearby pub.
After a frantic search by friends and family over the weekend, Comanchero member Shane Ross was found dead in bush at a park on Tallebudgera Creek Road, Burleigh Heads near the Pacific Motorway, at about 1.30pm on Monday.
His body was found about 1.5 kilometres away from the site of a single car crash where a man, reported as Cameron Martin, died on Friday night after crashing a Mercedes Benz into trees at high speed.
Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said the two men were friends and business partners who had been spotted together at a licensed venue earlier that night.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that the two men shared a beer at Pimpama tavern at about 7pm on Friday night just hours before their respective lives ended.
On Tuesday morning, Nine News reported that Ross was found with a gunshot wound to the head.
“Given the nature of his injury, I would suggest that it hasn’t happened elsewhere,” Supt Smith said on Monday, at the time not wanting to characterise the man’s wounds.
Yahoo News Australia contacted the Queensland Police unit handling the investigation and was referred to a statement issued at 1pm today.
“Investigations indicate that he sustained a significant head injury. The cause of this injury should be determined via an autopsy tomorrow,” the statement said.
Police also said investigations following the crash on Friday night indicated that Cameron Martin sustained a puncture wound to his chest, shortly before crashing his Mercedes into a tree. “The cause of the puncture wound should be known following an autopsy today,” police said.
According to police, motorists reported seeing an injured man walking along the side of Tallebudgera Creek Road around the time of Friday’s crash. They are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed a person, or has dash cam footage, in the vicinity of Tallebudgera Creek Road from 9.00pm to 10.00pm on Friday October 18, to come forward.
‘The bikie lifestyle carries its own risks’
Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said police were still working out the circumstances of what happened, but he added no “crime of opportunity” had occurred.
“The nature of their lifestyles probably put them at greater risk than other people,” he told reporters yesterday. “The bikie lifestyle carries its own risks; they are criminals and criminal behaviour has risks.”
Mr Ross’s injuries are not believed to have been self-inflicted.
“Obviously some sort of altercation has occurred and as a result, this male person is now deceased,” Supt Smith said.
Police are investigating the potential ties between the deaths and trying to piece together what happened in the roughly two-hour period on Friday night before the two friends died.
“That is certainly one line of inquiry we are going to run out. It would be coincidental if both incidents aren’t connected,” Supt Smith said.
Police confirmed there was no danger to the public.
Investigators are reportedly working to determine if the death of Ross is linked to his membership of the Comanchero bikie organisation.
Last week Ross was convicted at Campbelltown Local Court in Sydney’s southwest on fraud offences relating to luxury cars, being dishonestly obtaining property by deception and three counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime totalling less than $100,000, news.com.au reported.
He was sentenced to 18 months but was allowed to avoid jail by serving an Intensive Correction Order which is served in the community under strict supervision of correction officers.
Gunshots heard near park
A woman who lives near the park where Ross was found in the long grass has spoken to the Gold Coast Bulletin about hearing gunshots on Friday night. Shortly after hearing several gunshots, she heard sirens rushing to the area, she said.
“It was two successions, like bang, bang, bang, and then again,” the woman said.
“We heard ambulances rush past. I said to my husband ‘that sounded like gun shots’.”
Tributes flow for fallen bikie and friend
On Sunday, a friend took to Facebook in a desperate attempt to locate Ross after he went missing.
“To anyone that knows Shane Ross, if anyone has seen or heard from him after 7pm Friday night could you please make contact with me ASAP,” he wrote alongside a photo of the two. “Rossy if your (sic) reading this please make contact with me.”
Hours later, the same friend shared a heartbroken tribute.
“At 1.22pm today, Shane was tragically found deceased by two of his very close friends. I would respectfully ask can everyone please give some space while we grieve. make sure tonight you have a corona for him,” he wrote yesterday.
Meanwhile Martin - whose LinkedIn profile lists him as the managing director at PTS (Performance Training Solutions) Australia Group based at Coomera - has been mourned by the Gold Coast motoring community.
“Yesterday we lost a great person and also a big part of the car community,” wrote Hi-Torque Performance on Facebook. “Until we meet again. .. Rest In Peace mate.”
The investigation continues.
- With AAP
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