THE mother of Euan “EJ” Johnston told her son’s murder trial she screamed when informed he had been shot.
Anne McChord recalled that initially she was not going to answer the late-night call from Mr Johnston’s friend.
But, after learning what happened, she hurled the phone away and raced to the hospital in a taxi.
The 47 year-old was later told her son was dead – but she remembered touching his chest and pleading with a medic that his “heart was beating”.
READ MORE: Man fatally shot in Glasgow Street locally named as 26-year-old Euan 'EJ' Johnston
Miss McChord was giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow.
Anthony Ruthven and David Scott, both 33, are charged with murdering Mr Johnston on November 15 2016.
Prosecutors claim the pair, while acting with others unknown, did “repeatedly discharge” a firearm at the 26-year-old dad in the city’s Kinning Park.
Tributes left at the scene of Mr Johnstone's death
Miss McChord said she last spoke with her son on the day he was shot. She remembered Mr Johnston giving money for his mother to get her glasses at the opticians.
Miss McChord was at home around 11.15pm when his friend Brian McMahon phoned.
READ MORE: Former partner of young dad fatally shot in Glasgow street shares heartbreak over his death
Describing what she was told, the mother said: “I got a call to say that my son had been shot. I had thought at first: ‘I am not going to answer that’ – it was late at night, but I did.
“When I was told Euan had been shot, I just screamed and threw the phone down.
“My nephew came running in ... he spoke to Brian. He then ordered us a taxi to get to the hospital.”
Miss McChord recalled when she arrived Mr Johnston’s girlfriend and father Euan senior were already there.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC asked was there a discussion about turning off her son’s life support.
READ MORE: Euan Johnston murder: Two men appear in court with shooting in Glasgow
Miss McChord replied: “They just told me that my son was dead. I had my hand on his chest and I said: ‘He is not dead, his heart is beating’.
“I could feel his heart beating, but the surgeon said that it would be cruel to keep him alive.”
Miss McChord was shown a photo of Mr Johnston during her evidence.
She said: “I see pictures of him every day ... that’s my son.”
Miss McChord told how she later spoke with Brian McMahon and remembered him being “emotional” and “scared”.
Mr Ruthven and Mr Scott deny the charges. The trial, before Judge Lady Stacey, continues.
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