Bearsden murder bid: Victim shot at on own doorstep is a prison officer

The victim, named locally as Gary Chambers, was shot at in the attack, which occurred at around 5.30am on Rannoch Drive, Bearsden, Police Scotland said.

The 38 year-old escaped unscathed from the attack - but police have launched an attempted murder inquiry.

The Evening Times has since learned Mr Chambers works for the private justice company, Sodexo, who operate HMP Addiewell, near Livingston.

Police were stationed on Rannoch Drive all day following the incident. (Kirsty Anderson/Herald and Times)

It is not known what the motive was for the attack, but police say Mr Chambers was the intended target. 

A spokesperson for HMP Addiewell said: "We can confirm that there was an incident involving one of our employees this morning which is now under police investigation and so we are unable to comment further at present.

"We will support our employee and his family in any way we can.”

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According to an online business profile, Mr Chambers is listed as a Duty Operations Manager for the firm and has worked there for the past 11 years.

The suspect got back into a silver or grey coloured Skoda, possibly a Fabia, after firing the weapon, Police Scotland said.

The car was driven by another person and sped off south along Rannoch Drive.

Neighbours have described the moment they were awoken to the sound of two gunshots early on Wednesday morning.

Rannoch Drive was partially closed following the incident. (Kirsty Anderson/Herald and Times)

One woman, who asked not to be named, told The Evening Times at first they thought it was fireworks but then they “knew” it was gunshots.

She said: “I turned around and went back to sleep because I didn’t want to go to the window and see them, or even if they saw me.

“But I’m annoyed at myself I didn’t get up, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

“When I heard somebody had been targeted, I just thought that was so scary.

“I kind of wish it was a targeted car theft, as opposed to targeted at a person.”

Parents living nearby have spoken of their horror after the shooting just minutes away from a primary and secondary school.

Residents were escorted to and from the area. (Kirsty Anderson/Herald and Times)

A police cordon was put up around a series on houses on Rannoch Drive, which is just 0.1 miles away from Killermont Primary School, and 0.4 miles away from Boclair Academy.

“The fact it happened so near the school is quite shocking, it’s quite scary,” one parent said.

“It’s not something that happens around here, it’s a nice area,” another said.

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Another local resident told The Evening Times he and his wife were awoken to two loud shots at around 5.27am and they rushed to the window.

“It was two shots very close together and then nothing.

“It’s one of those funny things when you hear something like that, I’m fairly confident that was what it was.

“We went to the window and looked out, we didn’t see any cars or anything it was dead quiet.

“But it was far enough down the road that it wasn’t in our direct sight.

“We decided to go back to bed but I didn’t sleep very well after.

“We heard sirens not long after and then when it was time to get up around 6.30 there were all these flashing lights outside.”

The incident was described as "100 per cent out of character" for the area. (Kirsty Anderson/Herald and Times)

The resident said it was “100 percent” out of character for the area, but he did not feel uneasy following the shooting.

“If it was a botched burglary then maybe it would be different, but if it’s targeted it could be anything, drugs related or who knows,” they added.

Detective Inspector Stuart Dougan said: "Thankfully no one has been injured as a result of this shooting but there could have had a very different outcome.

"We believe, from our investigation so far, that the man was the intended target of the shooter.

"However, it doesn’t matter whether intended or not, to use a firearm so recklessly is incredibly dangerous. We will be treating this as attempted murder.

"We know that the Skoda was parked in Rannoch Drive prior to the attack and officers are in the area at the moment looking at CCTV, both private and public, as well as carrying out door to door enquiries."

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Police Scotland have asked any residents who were in the area at the time to contact them with any information.