Tributes have been paid to a Scots dad who tragically died after a series of gun incidents on Skye and in Wester Ross
John MacKinnon, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene in the Teangue area after a report of a firearm being discharged around 9.30am on Wednesday.
Heartbroken members of the community have paid tribute to John on social media and described him as a "lovely guy" who would have given his last penny to anyone in need.
Derek Maclean said: "Tragic times. John was a lovely guy who would have given you his last penny to see you alright. Thinking about his friends and family at this tough time. Rest in Peace pal. Dx"
Anne-Marie Ramsay wrote: "A nicer man you'll never meet. Always made us welcome in his home and never failed to make us laugh. Thinking of his lovely family."
While Christopher Gilchrist said: "Great guy. Served with him in The Highlanders. GBNF."
Shortly before John was found dead, officers were alerted to reports of a 32-year-old woman being seriously injured.
The woman has been named locally as Rowena MacDonald. She remains in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow with serious injuries.
In a third connected incident in the Dornie area in Wester Ross, a further firearm was discharged at a property and a 63-year-old man, named locally as popular osteopath John Don Mackenzie, was seriously injured.
He remains in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness in a critical condition. His wife Fay, also 63, was taken to Broadford Hospital in Skye and later released.
A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with all of the incidents, which are being treated as linked and there is no threat to the wider community.
Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, local policing commander for Highlands and Islands Division, said: “The thoughts of everyone are with the family and friends of Mr MacKinnon and the three people who remain injured in hospital.
“These incidents took place in close-knit, rural areas and will have a significant impact not only on those directly affected, but also friends and neighbours living in these communities.
“Serious incidents which were witnessed yesterday are extremely rare and I would like to further reassure the local communities that they were dealt with and there is no further threat to local people.
“The policing response was significant as people would expect and involved national resources from across Scotland, including Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow being brought in to support local policing on Skye and Lochalsh.
“Local officers who live and work in these communities brought the situation to as swift a conclusion as possible and I thank everyone involved, including colleagues from the Scottish Ambulance Service, for their outstanding efforts in responding to what was a distressing series of incidents.
“The investigation, being led by Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, is complex and challenging and I would also like to thank the local communities for their understanding and co-operation as we work through our enquiries.
“Given the size of the investigation and the fact we are dealing with a number of different sites, the considerable police presence will remain for the near future.
“We are working with local partners, including Highland Council and NHS Highland to provide support and welfare to those affected by the events of yesterday and I would urge anyone with any concerns or worries to please speak to our officers who are there to help.”
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