The 32-year-old Gold Coast construction worker, who at the time had a seven-year-old daughter and newborn son, was driving along the highway with two friends at Burleigh Heads around 10.25pm on Australia Day when he was involved in a vehicle incident then shot dead.

Police today revealed they believed the shooters were linked to the Gold Coast and Sydney chapters of organised crime syndicates and outlaw motorcycle gangs, with people currently living on the Gold Coast and in Sydney able to provide vital information.

It is understood previously identified suspects in the killing were linked to Sam Ibrahim, a member of Sydney’s notorious Ibrahim family and former Parramatta chapter president of the Nomads bikie gang.

In 2015, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton cancelled the visa of Sam Ibrahim on character grounds.

In October last year Ibrahim was transferred from a Sydney prison to immigration detention in Perth where he is to be deported to Lebanon as soon as coronavirus travel restrictions allow.

Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) said new DNA, fingerprint and ballistics evidence along with new analysis of historical telephone data led the Homicide Cold Case Investigation team and Gold Coast CIB to breakthroughs after they began reviewing the unsolved homicide last year.

“Police 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,” Ahearn said.

“Police believe that immediately after the shooting death, others with links to Gold Coast and Sydney chapters of these gangs provided assistance to the persons of interest. These persons are being investigated as accessories after the fact to murder, which is also a life imprisonment offence in Queensland.

“We are aware relationships and loyalties in these gangs change, so we are encouraging those people with information to come forward now as this may be your last chance at redemption.

“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,” Ahearn said.

Omega Ruston’s brother Nick today emotionally called on the shooter to come forward.

“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.”

Nick Ruston said the slaying had an enormous and lasting impact on the family.

“His children have had to grow up without a father being part of their lives and our family have had to carry on with the knowledge that the killer remains at large,” he said.

“We know that there a people out there who have information. If you are remaining silent out of some sense of allegiance or loyalty, please know that the man you are protecting is a coward.”

Police said Ruston had been travelling south on the Gold Coast Highway in his white 2001 Holden Rodeo ute with two friends when he pulled over near a McDonald’s restaurant at Burleigh Heads by the intersection with 5th Avenue following a traffic incident with a second vehicle carrying three men off middle eastern appearance.

Ruston and one of his passengers exited the ute, as the second vehicle, a small maroon four-door sedan was seen stopping behind his vehicle before driving forward.

Two shots were fired from the rear passenger side window of the maroon sedan, with one shot striking Ruston in the abdomen, killing him.

Witnesses reported seeing three men of middle eastern appearance in the maroon vehicle, with the rear passenger seen holding a black semi-automatic style pistol. The maroon vehicle was seen travelling south along the highway following the shooting.

Ahearn said police were seeking assistance from anyone who is, or was a member, associate or family member of an outlaw motorcycle gang member linked to the shooting.

“We believe persons with this information reside on the Gold Coast and Sydney,” he said.

“We know there are many people out there who can provide crucial information to assist us progress this investigation. It is never too late to come forward. Relationships and loyalties change.

“People who were once scared may now no longer be. We would encourage these persons to come forward. This may be their chance at redemption.”