Posters bid to net the Shields Road killer

The call from Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr comes at the same time as a new police blitz of the area around Shields Road where the fatal November 15 attack took place.

Posters in four different foreign languages are being widely distributed today in the bid to gain new information.

Police aim to leave no stone unturned in the area where the victim, sitting in a black Audi RS4, was shot by an occupant of an Audi O5 that had pulled up beside him.

The Audi made off into Scotland Street immediately after the shooting, which happened at 11.40pm.

it then went over the Kingston Bridge and through Charing Cross on to the eastbound M8 before coming off at the Springburn junction.

It then sped through Springburn Road, Colston Road and ASshgill Road, then on to Bracken Street in Parkhouse, where the car was discovered on fire a short time later.

At the time of the shooting the Q5 had the registration number VN61 LZA, however the true registration number of the vehicle is SQ62 NGU, and it was stolen from Parklands Country Club, Newton Mearns on May 16. Officers are still urging anyone with information on its whereabouts between when it was stolen and the night of the shooting to come forward.

Detectives are working to identify three men seen running on Balmore Road near the disused railway line shortly before midnight and enquiries are also continuing to trace a dark-coloured Volkswagen Golf being driven at speed in Balmore Road shortly after midnight on Wednesday, November 16.

Detective Superintendent Jim Kerr from the Major Investigations Team said:

“We hope that these posters and leaflets will jog the memories of people in the local community, who may have seen Euan on the night of the shooting, or equally they may remember seeing Euan or the Audi Q5 either on the same night, or in the days before the shooting took place.

“Posters have been produced with information in Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic and Romanian and will be distributed in the local area in the hope that anyone from the local community may know any information.

“Perhaps someone who works or lives locally in and around St Andrew’s Road, McCulloch Street or Shields Road may have seen men acting suspiciously or in an unusual manner in the area, or may have noticed them in the area over a number of days?”

He added: “Despite previous appeals for information and widespread media coverage, we have still to trace whoever is responsible for this murder.

“In the last few days there has been few calls to the Incident Room, which is slightly disappointing although I do understand that some people may be reluctant to come forward with information.

“This was a targeted attack and it may be that the speculation surrounding Euan Johnston’s involvement in criminality is making people reluctant to come forward to police.

“We have support mechanisms in place, should people feel vulnerable about contacting us and I would urge people to please have the confidence and report any information they have. We can’t allow these type of events to happen.

“I would urge anyone with information on this murder, who has not yet come forward to police to look to their conscience and make contact. They may well have that vital piece of information that will move this investigation forward and bring whoever is responsible for this murder to justice.

“A team of highly experienced detectives are still working round the clock on this inquiry and we are continuing to examine a large amount of CCTV footage from a number of areas throughout Glasgow.

“We are working on identifying the people or vehicles seen in and around the areas where Euan visited, or the Q5 sped through.

“I would ask people to think carefully if they have any information regarding our appeals on this murder. If you have information on the vehicles or saw Euan in the Pollokshields area, then please contact us. I am confident that with the assistance of the public and the dedication and commitment of the inquiry team, we will trace who is responsible for this terrible crime.

“Please don’t wait for police to visit your home – do the right thing and come forward.

“There are extra uniform officers to provide public reassurance, and I would urge anyone with concerns to speak to officers.”

Anyone who has knowledge of this crime is asked to contact the Incident Room through 101, or on 0141 532 4128. Email officers at [email protected] or text the inquiry team on 07541 336824.

Alternatively CRIMESTOPPERS can be contacted on 0800 555 111, where anonymity can be maintained.