STREETS OF FEAR
‘Gangland’ victim blasted in head by masked gunman as he sits at traffic lights, in latest of string of shootings
A MAN was fighting for his life last night after being shot in the head by a masked gunman.
The 29-year-old, named locally as Kenny Reilly, was blasted up to four times as he sat in the passenger seat of a BMW at traffic lights in Glasgow.
He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary with serious injuries and was said to be in a critical condition last night.
It is the latest in a string of shootings in the city’s ongoing feud between rival gangs and police confirmed they cannot rule out a gangland connection to the incident.
Emergency services responded to reports of the shooting on Bilsland Drive, in the city’s Maryhill, just before 10.30pm on Monday.
The area remained in lockdown yesterday while police carried out forensic examinations. Officers said that the incident was being treated as attempted murder.
Police said a black car pulled up beside the silver BMW in which the victim was sitting and a man got out and shot him in the head.
The suspect, who was wearing a black balaclava, got back into the car and it sped off in the direction of Maryhill Road. A short time later a black people-carrier was found burnt out at Craigieburn Gardens, Maryhill.
Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham said the person responsible had ‘no regard’ for the safety of others and ‘must be caught’.
He added: ‘We are continuing our inquiries today to establish a motive for this crime, although we believe that this was a targeted attack and that the 29-year-old man was the intended victim.
‘Extensive forensic examinations are ongoing in both Bilsland Drive and Craigieburn Gardens where the burnt-out vehicle was found.’
Locals in Maryhill reported hearing loud bangs. One resident, Ursula Nicol, said: ‘It’s basically at my back door. It’s really, really frightening. My son actually knows of the family.’
Her son, Andrew, 18, claimed Mr Reilly was on life support in hospital after being shot in the head.
Chief Inspector Vicky Little, from Maryhill Police Office, said: ‘High visibility patrols are being carried out in the area and members of the public are encouraged to speak to the police about any concerns they may have.’
It follows a string of attacks over the past 18 months, thought to be linked to an ongoing gangland feud. Last year, Police Scotland launched Operation Engagement in an effort to target the gangs.
Family members at Mr Reilly’s home address in Maryhill yesterday declined to comment.
Local resident Eileen Horsham, 49, said: ‘Violence is one thing, but guns is something different altogether – and not something anyone would want to see on our streets. It’s really shocking.’
Callum Youde, 23, who was staying with friends on Maryhill Road, described ‘distinctive gunshots’.
He told the BBC: ‘You could tell what the sound was – it was like the noise from a movie.’
‘It is really, really frightening’