Reports have indicated that a man from Ireland was fatally shot by the police in Malta following allegations that he used a counterfeit firearm in a threatening manner towards them. Edward William Johnston, a 50-year-old Dublin native, reportedly pointed the imitation weapon to his own head and asked the police if they were prepared, claiming he was.
Prior to these alarming events, Johnston had reportedly stabbed Nicolette Ghirxi, his former partner, to death in an apartment in Birkirkara, a city on the eastern side of Malta’s main island. The couple formerly shared a romantic relationship that had sadly concluded, leaving Johnston reportedly harassing Ghirxi on social media platforms for a period after their separation, according to Maltese law enforcement correspondence.
Maltese officers retaliated to Johnston’s threat by opening fire, under the impression that he planned to use his weapon against them. This information comes according to a report published in the Times of Malta. The newspaper disclosed that the entire episode involving Johnston and the police was captured on a body camera, and the footage is currently serving a crucial part of the ongoing investigation into this distressing case.
As the investigation continued, it was unveiled that the firearm Johnston had with him was indeed an imitation Beretta pistol. A police informant relayed to the press that police, engulfed in pitch darkness, had every reason to perceive Johnston’s words as a serious threat to their lives, considering the gruesome information about a recent murder they had received.
The informant further disclosed that Johnston previously attempted to order a beverage at the St Julian’s Hilton Hotel before the fatal stabbing of Ghirxi occurred. Upon being informed that the bar was closed, he revealed his imitation firearm to the bartender, adopting a threatening tone demanding beer or face the risk of being shot.
Edward William Johnston’s records indicate several past convictions, including an incident in Glasgow in 2012 where he also provoked the police to shoot at him, which resulted in him serving 28 months in prison.