Gunman blasts puppy farmer in face at vet’s
Police believe victim was targeted
A MAN was shot in the face in a ‘targeted’ murder bid outside a vet’s clinic.
Scott Bennett was injured as he sat in a van outside the Taylor Veterinary Practice in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire.
The 37-year-old managed to drive to a nearby Indian restaurant and staggered inside to raise the alarm.
Shocked restaurant workers called an ambulance and Mr Bennett was taken to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where he was treated for serious facial injuries.
His condition was last night described as ‘stable’.
Mr Bennett operates a business selling bulldog puppies from kennels based at his home in Strathaven, Lanarkshire, and has criminal convictions for possessing cannabis and cocaine.
The incident happened at around 5.30pm on Monday when a BMW 3 Series car pulled up next to Mr Bennett’s Peugeot van in the clinic car park. A passenger wielding a firearm got out of the car and shot him through the window.
Police later said they believe the attack was a targeted hit.
The gunman, who was wearing a high-viz vest, fled while Mr Bennett drove half a mile to the Blue Rupee restaurant.
The car park was sealed off by police to allow officers to scour the scene for clues and the BMW was later found on fire near Cathkin Golf Club, Rutherglen. A Blue Rupee worker said staff were shaken and in tears when Mr Bennett arrived, blood pouring from his face. He added that diners left when he was forced to close and cancel bookings.
Restaurant owner Liam Ali said: ‘Nothing like this has ever happened before, it’s usually really quiet along this road.’
Local resident Christine Kerr, 57, said: ‘The thought of people having guns and going about shooting other people where you live is terrifying.’
Police appealed to motorists to check dashcam footage in an effort to trace those in the lightcoloured BMW vehicle.
Detective Inspector Alan MacDonald of Cambuslang CID said: ‘I would like to reassure members of the public that we believe this was a targeted attack on the victim.’