Gang shooting victim due to face court on drugs charges
THE man shot dead at the wheel of his car had been facing heroin dealing and organised crime charges, it has emerged.
Euan Johnston stopped his car at traffic lights in Glasgow’s South Side late on Tuesday night when a gunman pulled alongside and shot him twice. His passenger was not injured.
The father-of-two, of Springburn, had been out having a meal with a friend when he was followed by his attacker.
The killer pulled up alongside Johnston’s Audi RS4 on Shields Road, near its junction with Scotland Street, and shot him in an ‘obviously targeted’ attack.
As they launched a murder hunt, police admitted they believed the death could be linked to a vendetta or a drug feud among gangs.
And it has now been revealed that the 26-year-old was due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow to face Class A drug dealing and organised crime charges.
The new information has stoked speculation that his death was the result of a fall-out between rival gangs. Johnston also has a connection to Glasgow’s drug black market through his father – who goes by the same name.
The father and son were both allegedly involved in the heroin trade at the same time and both were believed by police to be operating in the Maryhill area.
Johnston Snr, 44, was found carrying £2million worth of heroin in June 2014 and jailed for six and a half years after being caught with the drug at a car park near Partick Thistle’s football ground.
Charge sheets reveal that his murdered son faced charges of dealing heroin at the same time in streets near the stadium.
The alleged offences took place at five locations across north Glasgow. Two other suspects are also facing the same charge.
And 28-stone Johnston was also facing allegations that the dealing was connected to ‘serious organised crime’.
A single charge was also brought against Johnston alone, for dealing Class C Diazepam between November 24 and December 22, 2014. Prosecutors also aimed to prove this was linked to organised crime.
With five locations named and alleged offences spanning nine months, it seems likely that Johnston was part of an in-depth investigation by police.
He appeared at a preliminary hearing for the case on December 2, 2015 when a trial date was set for January 26 next year.
The Crown Office has confirmed that the case remains live, but that it has yet to receive a report from police on Johnston’s death.
Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr confirmed that Johnston was known to them for criminal activity. He admitted that ‘there could be an association’ to drugs and gangs with the case – saying: ‘It could be a vendetta, it could be a revenge attack.’
A source local to Johnston’s family said it was well known the man was involved in the drug trade.
Yesterday Mr Kerr said: ‘Although we do believe this was a targeted, planned attack and Euan Johnston was the intended target, the shooting was carried out with absolutely no regard for public safety.
‘We would appreciate any assistance that the public can provide, as the even the smallest piece of information could be vital.’
‘We believe it was a planned attack’