LOWELL, Mass. -- John R. 'Jackie' McDermott, a reputed organized crime figure and alleged government informant who was shot to death early Tuesday, feared in recent weeks that he would be killed, family and friends said.

McDermott, 58, was shot in the head and died at his home. He allegedly was killed by a man he 'feared,' but with whom he frequently socialized.

His son, Peter McDermott, 27, also was shot and was in critical condition at Lowell General Hospital. The son, though severely wounded by two shots in the neck, called police seconds after the shootings and identified the suspects, police said.

Named as suspects by police were reputed crime figure William 'Billy' Barnoski, 48, of Somerville and Billerica, and his wife, Donna, 41. A third suspect, Richard Kenney of Cambridge, was being sought by police.

One law enforcement official downplayed reports the shooting was a 'gangland' hit because of McDermott's alleged role as a police informant. But another official speculated the gunman's decision to shoot McDermott in the mouth indicated he was a 'stool pigeon.'

Jackie McDermott met with Barnoski Monday at a Billerica bar and later the two ate dinner at the Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant in Chelmsford with Peter McDermott and Barnoski's wife, officials said.

In a 30-second phone call, a wounded Peter McDermott allegedly told police Barnoski was the man who pulled the trigger, and that Barnoski's wife and Kenney witnessed the shooting, officials said.Donna Barnoski drove the getaway vehicle, police said.

Barnoski and his wife were arrested at their Billerica home and charged with murder and assault with intent to commit murder at their arraignment in Lowell District Court, authorities said. The Barnoskis were ordered held without bail.

William Barnoski is reputed to be a one-time member of the Winter Hill gang, a group of Somerville-based criminals. The suspect had spent time in prison for fixing horse races, officials said.

According to interviews published in the Boston Herald and Boston Globe, McDermott recently told family and friends that he believed his life was in danger and he feared Barnoski most of all.

State police told McDermott last year they had information that Barnoski planned to kill him. Five months ago, it was revealed that McDermott offered to turn informant against Barnoski to escape a prison sentence in a pending gambling-racketeering case against McDermott, Barnoski and 15 others.

The illegal gambling operation handled between $10 million and $12 million in bets, officials said. Federal officials broke the case through the use of wiretaps in late 1986.

McDermott's daughter told the Boston Herald that her father was 'worried about his safety' because he had recently received strange telephone calls. 'He sat me down and he told me he'd been getting these phone calls. He thought someone might be after him,' said Mary Lou McDermott Boucher.

One friend said: 'Jackie told me he thought Bill would kill him. He said, 'Jesus Christ, I'm scared of that guy. I'm sittin' there havin' dinner with the guy, and he's across the table plottin' my murder.''