Two victims who were rushed to hospital after a series of linked incidents involving a firearm in the Scottish Highlands on Wednesday are fighting for their lives.
Rowena MacDonald, named locally as the 32-year-old woman who was injured in the first incident around 9am in Tarskavaig, Skye, remains in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow with serious injuries.
Police formally named a 47-year-old man who died in the second incident at a nearby property in the Teangue area as they said a considerable police presence will remain in the area for the near future.
Officers confirmed John MacKinnon was pronounced dead after reports of a firearm being discharged around 9.30am.
A 63-year-old man who was seriously injured in a third incident after a firearm was discharged in the Dornie area in Wester Ross was named locally as popular osteopath John Don Mackenzie.
He remains in a critical condition in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
A 63-year-old woman, understood to be John's wife Fay, was taken to Broadford Hospital and has been released after treatment.
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.”
Anyone with any information regarding the incidents is asked to call 101, quoting reference 0713 of 10 August, 2022, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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