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Police hunt for firearm linked to Euan Johnston killing

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 has a very slight smile. He is standing against a bright yellow wall.Police Scotland
Police are carrying out a search 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 are carrying out a search for a firearm linked to the killing.

Euan Johnston, 26, was targeted while he sat in his car at the traffic lights on Scotland Street in Glasgow in November 2016 and 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 officers are now searching a grass embankment in Oban in the hope of finding a weapon.

The search is expected to last several days and there will be an increased police presence in the area.

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 have cordoned off the grass embankment near Oban

Judge Lady Stacey described the murder as an "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 rang out.

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

The shooting is believed to be linked to organised crime.

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
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

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

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

Change in 'allegiances'

Officers carrying out the latest search also re-appealing for any new information which may help the case.

Det Supt Peter Sharp said: "We know from our inquiries that there was more than one person involved in the murder of Euan Johnston and we are determined to bring those responsible for his death to justice.

"Although his murder was almost nine years ago, time is no barrier for justice and we are working to get answers for Mr Johnston's relatives.

"A significant amount of time has passed since Mr Johnston's murder and we understand that allegiances have may have changed over the time."

Anyone with information has been urged to contact Police Scotland on the non-emergency line or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.