The suspected shooter was charged with murder and three attempted murders after allegedly embarking on a spree that claimed one life and critically wounded three more.
Finlay MacDonald, 39, is charged with shooting and killing John MacKinnon, who is thought to be his brother-in-law, then shooting and stabbing his wife, Rowena MacDonald, 32.
He has been charged with the murder of Mr. MacKinnon and the attempted murder of three other persons, according to police, who confirmed his detention yesterday.
Today in Inverness, MacDonald is scheduled to appear in court.
In a series of “connected” occurrences, MacKinnon, 47, was fatally shot at his house in the Isle of Skye fishing community of Teangue.
Following reports that his sister-in-law Rowena had been stabbed in her house on Wednesday morning at 9am, police were sent to the town of Tarskavaig.
After a shooter opened fire on Mr. MacKinnon at his residence eight miles distant a little over 30 minutes later, the alarm was then sounded.
Following further reports of gunshots, two more individuals were wounded near the hamlet of Dornie on the Scottish mainland.
Following the assault, 63-year-old osteopath John Don Mackenzie and his social worker wife Fay were both taken to the hospital.
The’much-loved’ family man, Mr. MacKinnon, was honoured by his family yesterday.
In a statement, they added that John was a devoted husband, father of six children, brother, uncle, and grandpa to his family.
He was also a beloved member of the neighbourhood.
“John liked being outside, was an avid motorcycle rider, and as a devoted parent, shared his pastimes with his family.”
Mr. MacKinnon spent five years as a distiller at the Torabhaig Distillery on the Isle of Skye, which was shut down yesterday.
The facility had to close “unexpectedly,” according to a sign posted at the entrance.
Mother of young children Mrs. MacDonald was rushed to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where her condition was characterised as critical.
At Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, Mr. MacKenzie’s health remained “critical” as of last night.
After being transported to Broadford Hospital on Skye, Mrs. MacKenzie was released yesterday.
The son of the MacKenzies is returning from his honeymoon in Thailand to be at his father’s bedside, according to a friend of the family who wished to remain anonymous.
His kid is just getting married, therefore he’s coming back; he could already be here, the insider said.
“It’s awful, it’s absolutely filthy.” Simply said, I don’t get it. As you could guess, the neighbourhood is not pleased.
Although John is a robust guy, he has sustained some serious injuries. We’re praying he’ll make it.
I heard that he may have been shot through the glass. Fay has been released from custody. She was hurt, I heard, when the glass broke.
“They both have an excellent reputation in the community and have lived here for a long time.
Because he used to visit the islands sometimes to treat patients, he is well known there as well.
“It’s really shocking; this has never occurred here before,” someone said. Gun ownership is widespread in this area, yet no one has ever committed such an offence.
Mr. MacKenzie was characterised as a “gentle, quiet” guy by another Dornie resident.
He fit nicely in with the neighbourhood, she claimed. He is excellent as well; he has played in a few ceilidh bands on the pipes.
Gordon Matheson, a local of Teangue, said that the occurrences had been “profoundly distressing” for the neighbourhood.
Families today have lost a great deal, he added.
“These things breach tight communities, as we have ourselves,” the Rev. Roddie Rankin of the Plockton and Kyle Free Church stated.
“To me, it seems like someone simply dropped and broke a nearly precious piece of porcelain, leaving the community to attempt to put it back together,” one person said.
The assaults, which have jolted the “close-knit” communities, were described as “horrific” by Nicola Sturgeon yesterday.
The First Minister added, “I want to express that strength of sympathy to those people and families who will have been saddened by what has occurred,” as she spoke to a church group in Forfar, Angus.
Clearly, the acts that took place would have been horrifying and catastrophic in any region of the nation.
However, since they are tiny, tightly linked communities, the feeling of disaster will be felt even more keenly.
On Wednesday, Highlands and Islands MSP and leader of the Scottish Conservative Party Douglas Ross said: “My heart goes out to all those touched by these dreadful, connected tragedies on Skye and in the Lochalsh area.”
“I would want to commend the quick action and courage of our emergency personnel who were able to stop the situation from becoming worse. As always, we owe them money.
The event prompted a major reaction from the emergency services, with around 14 police cars—including armed response units—deployed to the location. There was also a police helicopter present.
Aberdeen sent Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance to help with the emergency response.
A quick retrieval emergency team, which is sent to remote regions when individuals are in urgent need of medical assistance, as well as ambulances and a special operations response team responded.
In the popular vacation spot yesterday, there was still a noticeable increase in the police presence. Police on Skye kept watch outside both residences as forensics investigators searched the area.
The situation was similar at the MacKenzies’ house, where police were expected to stay for a few days.
Police said during a news conference that they were available to assist neighbourhood residents.
They emphasised that these occurrences were “very uncommon” and presented no harm to the general public.
Senior officials also affirmed that the suspected gun discharger did indeed possess a licence.
The Highlands and Islands Division’s local police chief, Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, stated: “Everyone’s sympathies are with Mr. MacKinnon’s family, friends, and the others who remain wounded in hospitals.” These tragedies occurred in small, rural villages and will have an enormous effect not just on the individuals immediately impacted but also on friends and neighbours who live there.
Police on Skye and Lochalsh were supported by national resources from all around Scotland, including Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow. This was a considerable police reaction, as one would imagine.
“Local officers who reside in and serve in these communities brought the situation to a swift resolution, 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 statement reads.
In order to aid individuals impacted by Wednesday’s events, Police Scotland also stated that it is working closely with neighbourhood partners such as Highland Council and NHS Highland. Ruraidh Stewart, a Scottish Conservative local councillor who sits on Highland Council and represents Eilean a’ Che, said yesterday that the locals had been “resilient” in the wake of the tragedy.
“My heart hurts for the families affected by this tragedy,” Mr. Stewart said. We are a close-knit community on Skye and Lochalsh, and we are appalled and saddened by today’s events.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the grieving families and the injured patients at the hospital.”
We are a strong community that is, fortunately, well supported.
“I would like to thank the emergency services for all their efforts,” he said, “as well as the employees at Highland Council, who have assisted and supported the concerned families.”