Police have today stepped up their hunt for a gunman who shot a former gangland shooting murder accused near a primary school.
Detectives and uniformed officers held a stop and interview operation outside St George's Primary School in Penilee, Glasgow a week to the day after an attempt was made on Ross Monaghan's life.
Mr Monaghan, 35, was shot at close range by the gunman who approached him after he dropped his daughter off at school last Monday.
The gunman carried out the attack as Mr Monaghan was walking away from the school in Hollybush Road at Muirdyke Road as classes were about to start.
Police Scotland confirmed that the gunman was pushing a four-wheel, collapsible-type buggy in a bid to blend in with other parents before he discharged the firearm at Mr Monaghan’s back.
The force also said the gunman may have been casing the area the Friday before he fired the shots.
Detective Chief Inspector John Kennedy said: “We are now one week into this inquiry, and this operation is about speaking to people who were in the area last week, or who perhaps use this route on a regular basis. Hopefully we can jog their memories into remembering something they may have seen or heard that could assist our investigation.
“We have a team of experienced detectives dedicated to this enquiry in an attempt to identify the person responsible for this crime.
“Our inquiries so far have shown that the suspect is believed to have been in the area, outside the school, on Friday, January 13, with the buggy, so I’m appealing to parents, local residents, or anyone who was in the area that day and who may have seen something to contact us."
He added: “It’s possible the suspect made off in a vehicle and I’m asking people in the surrounding areas to think back and consider if they noticed anything unusual or suspicious. Did you see the man with the buggy, did you see him get into a vehicle? Any small detail could prove significant to our inquiries so please do pass it on.
“I’d like to reassure the local community that we are working to identify who is responsible for this incident. If anyone has concerns please contact your local officers. However, I do need people to come forward with any information they have, regardless of how insignificant it may seem.”
The attack happened as parents dropped their young children off at the school.
The gunman ran onto Hollybrush Road in the confusion towards Langstile Road.
He was wearing a blue padded jacket, blue jeans, a dark woollen bobble hat and a woollen scarf pulled up around his face.
It is understood that Mr Monaghan took himself to hospital for treatment and was released a few hours later.
He was then seen in Glasgow airport on Thursday night before boarding a flight to Malaga.
Mr Monaghan was cleared of the murder of Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll in an Asda carpark in Robroyston in 2012.
A similar stop and interview operation was held to find the killer of Maryhill man Euan Johnston a week after he was shot in a Glasgow street.
Mr Johnstone was shot as he sat in his car at traffic lights on Shields Road near to its junction with Scotland Street last November.
Known as EJ, the 26-year-old was within a black Audi RS4 at around 11.40pm when a gunman drove up beside him in a dark-coloured Audi Q5 and fired.
The gunmen then sped off in his car and was last seen turning right into Scotland Street, heading for the M8 motorway towards the Kingston Bridge.
Emergency services rushed to the scene to save Mr Johnstone but he later died in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
No arrests have been made over the death of Mr Johnston.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives who will be based at Pollok Police Station via 101. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously
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