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No weapon found in search linked to Euan Johnston murder

Police Scotland Euan Johnston, a young man with slicked back dark hair and a turquoise green polo shirt, looks into the camera. His eyes are squinting as the sun shines brightly and he has a very slight smile. He is standing against a bright yellow wall.Police Scotland
Police searched an area in Oban for a firearm linked to the murder of Euan Johnston

Detectives investigating the murder of a man who was shot twice in the head nearly nine years ago have concluded a search for a firearm near Oban, without recovering a weapon.

Euan Johnston, 26, was targeted while he sat in his car at traffic lights on Scotland Street in Glasgow in November 2016. He died from his injuries.

David Scott was convicted of Mr Johnston's murder two years later, though police say they know more than one person was at the scene of the crime.

The case has remained open and on Tuesday officers began searching a grass embankment near Oban for a firearm, but nothing was recovered.

Police confirmed the investigation remains open and inquiries are ongoing.

The force urged anyone with any information "no matter how insignificant" to come forward.

A road winding through the countryside near Oban. A police car is parked in the foreground of the shot with two uniformed officers standing beside it. Another police car can be seen uphill and there is police tape along a grass embankment.
Police officers cordoned off the grass embankment near Oban

Judge Lady Stacey described the murder as a "well-planned execution" when she sentenced Scott to a minimum of 22 years in prison.

Mr Johnston, a father-of-two, was sitting at a set of traffic lights with a passenger in his car on the evening of 15 November 2016.

He was chatting to his partner Danielle Carruthers on the phone when an Audi Q5 pulled up alongside him and three shots were fired.

Two of the bullets hit Mr Johnston, who was known as EJ, in the head. One went through his brain.

A police van parked near a junction on Scotland Street in Glasgow at night. The road has been cordoned off by police and an officer stands next to a 'road closed' sign.
Euan Johnston was killed at the traffic lights on Scotland Street in Glasgow in 2016

He suffered a catastrophic brain injury and died later in hospital.

The shooting is believed to be linked to organised crime.

At the time, Mr Johnston was awaiting trial at the High Court on charges of drug dealing involving £640,000 of heroin.

Prosecutors believed Scott was acting as part of a group but the identities of the others were unknown at the time of his conviction.

Police Scotland Mug shot of David Scott, a white man with a large jaw and short dark hair wearing a dark polo shirtPolice Scotland
David Scott was convicted of murdering Mr Johnston

Det Supt Peter Sharp said: "I'd like to thank the public for their co-operation during this activity and stress that we are continuing to appeal for any new information which may assist.

"From our extensive inquiries, we know that more than one person was at the scene of Euan Johnston's murder and we are determined to bring those responsible to justice.

"We are continuing the investigation and if you have any information, no matter how insignificant, please come forward. Any new information we receive is taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated."