Victims of Isle of Skye gun rampage: Father-of-four, 47, was shot dead while trying to stop gunman just half an hour after his sister was ‘stabbed’ in nearby village – before osteopath and his wife were shot 30 miles away
- Police rushed to reports of an injured woman at a property on Skye around 9am
- The first incident took place in the small village of Tarskavaig on Wednesday
- Officers were then called to attacks in Teangue and in Dornie on the mainland
- Police Scotland say the incidents are linked and a 39-year-old man arrested
- He was only halted when police tasered and stopped suspect in village of Dornie
The four victims of a gunman’s deadly rampage have today been pictured as it emerged a father-of-four who was shot dead had been trying to save others by preventing his attacker from getting hold of a gun.
John MacKinnon, 47, was named locally as the victim of yesterday’s horrific shooting – in which a further three people were injured before police Tasered and arrested the suspect.
Wednesday’s horror began when the first victim, named locally as Mr MacKinnon’s sister-in-law, Rowena MacDonald was stabbed at a property in the village of Tarskavaig at around 9am.
Following the incident in Teangue, the gunman then drove about an hour away to Dornie in Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland before launching an attack on two locals named as osteopath John D Mackenzie and mental health nurse wife Fay.
Mrs MacDonald was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow with serious injuries, while Mr and Mrs MacKenzie were rushed to Raigmore Hospital and Broadford Hospitals respectively.
A 39-year-old man was arrested yesterday in connection with the three incidents, which the police are treating as linked for the purposes of their probe.
John MacKinnon, 47, has been named locally as the victim of yesterday’s horrific gun rampage, in which a further three people were injured before police Tasered and arrested a suspect
Wednesday’s horror began when the first victim, named locally as Mr MacKinnon’s sister-in-law, Rowena MacDonald, 32, (pictured) was stabbed at a property in the village of Tarskavaig at around 9am
The gunman then drove about an hour away to Dornie in Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland before launching an attack on two locals named as osteopath John D Mackenzie and wife Fay (pictured together, centre)
Police say there were three linked incidents on Skye and the Scottish mainland which have led to the arrest of a 39-year-old man
The suspect targeted four victims in a trail of destruction from the popular holiday island to Ross-shire.
Their spree started at 9am yesterday when 32-year-old Rowena was stabbed at a home in the Skye village of Tarskavaig.
A shotgun incident then took place seven miles away in the fishing village of Teangue, on the Sleat peninsula, where Mr MacKinnon was killed.
Distillery worker Mr MacKinnon, 47, was described by heartbroken friends and neighbours as a ‘wonderful and kind man’.
Osteopath John D Mackenzie (above) was named locally as the third person injured during the gunman’s rampage
One school friend shared their tributes to John MacKinnon and told the Press & Journal that he was ‘one of the kindest men’.
‘He loved a laugh and he lit up a room and made everyone feel special,’ they added.
Another neighbour said: ‘No one can believe what has happened here on Skye today. We will miss him.’
Police officers were later alerted to reports of gunshots 26 miles away on the mainland in Dornie, close to the famous Eilean Donan Castle.
The major incident only ended when police tasered and stopped the attacker in the village of Dornie.
Last night, police officers stood guard at the property in Teangue as forensic teams wearing white suits combed the area.
A tight cordon remained in place, and officers could be seen patrolling outside the house.
Police were called to a property in the Tarskavaig area, a remote region in southern part of the Isle of Skye, after reports of an injured woman.
Officers found a 32-year-old woman seriously injured, and she is airlifted to hospital in Glasgow for treatment.
9.30am
Emergency services were then called to a property in Teangue, which is less than a 20 minute drive from Tarskavaig, after reports a firearm had been discharged.
On arrival they found a 47-year-old man, who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Later on Wednesday morning
Police were then called to a property in the Dornie area in Wester Ross after reports of a firearm being discharged.
On arrival they found a man seriously injured and an injured woman.
The man was airlifted to hospital in Inverness, while the woman was taken to a hospital on Skye.
Arrest is made
Officers later arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with all three incidents.
He was taken to hospital in Inverness for treatment on unspecified injuries.
One local man, who asked not to be named, told the Mail that the news of the shooting had shocked the community to the core.
He said: ‘I am absolutely shocked, we knew the man that was killed, the wife and the family.
‘The police cars were all lined up outside his former practice, I can’t believe it.
‘Everybody is totally shocked. It is a such a shock to the community, especially because we are so tight-knit.
‘An elderly lady who lives nearer to the house [in Teangue] phoned me and told me about the police arriving. Other than that I never heard anything.’
In Dornie, neighbours told how they heard sirens and the sound of the air ambulance at around 9.30am.
One man said: ‘I looked outside and saw maybe 13 police cars and an ambulance racing past.
‘It’s a terrible shock, everyone is talking about it.’
Another local who was working at nearby Eilean Donan Castle at the time told of his fear his children might be caught up in the violence.
He said: ‘I heard something bad was happening while I was at work, so I phoned my daughter and told her to stay in the house. It was scary.
‘You’d think of something like this happening out in America but you don’t expect it around here.’
Yesterday, a house remained cordoned off with three police officers standing guard.
Police say a 39-year-old man who has been arrested in relation to all three incidents has also been taken to Raigmore Hospital.
Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, local policing commander for Highlands and Islands Division, said: ‘Incidents such as this are thankfully extremely rare but I understand that this will have a significant effect on the local community in these rural areas.
Dozens of police cars and the force helicopter were called to reports of an injured woman at a property in the Tarskavaig area
Police officers were then alerted to reports of gunshots 26 miles away on the mainland in Dornie
A police van at the scene of one of the incidents on the Isle of Skye this morning. One man has died and three other people were injured
An air ambulance pictured at the scene of one of the incidents in the Scottish Highlands this morning
Despite the police presence in Dornie (pictured) on Skye, Police Scotland says there is no further risk to the community
‘I would like to reassure people that we are treating these incidents as contained with no wider threat to the public.
‘There will a significant police presence in the area over the coming days and we will be working with partners to provide support to the local community. I would like to thank people for their co-operation as our investigation progresses.’
Earlier on Wednesday Ian Blackford, the SNP MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said he has been told ‘there is one fatality’.
He said: ‘This is dreadful and shocking news – especially for a place like Skye and Lochalsh.
‘I have been kept informed of the events and I understand a firearm and knives were involved. I have been told that there is one fatality and three injured.
‘Firearm regulations are there for a reason and there must be a review of this incident to ensure if any lessons can be learned from it.
Mr Blackford, who lives on Skye, added: ‘I want to pay tribute to the emergency services, including the police and Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as the local authority.’
An ambulance at the scene of one of the incidents on the Isle of Skye this morning. A total of three people were injured and one man killed on Wednesday
A Scottish Charity Air Ambulance flies overhead as emergency services deal with the fallout of the incidents on Skye and in Dornieon Wednesday
Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch described the news as ‘one of the worst days that I can recall in the history of Skye and Lochalsh.’
She said: ‘I cannot begin to imagine what the family and friends of those who have lost a loved one are going through, and they should be in all our thoughts and prayers right now.
‘West Highland communities are close-knit, we are warm and welcoming, and this will shatter us to the core.
‘It feels like our very heart has been ripped apart. I, and I am sure many others, never thought we would see such an awful day. Not a single West Highland home will be untouched by this terrible tragedy.’
A dozen police cars including armed response units and the force helicopter were deployed to the scene on Wednesday morning.
Locals have reported that the suspect is believed to have used a knife and firearm in a series of attacks.
One resident said at the time of the incident: ‘Stabbing in Sleat, then shotgun was used in Dornie. The victim is on the way to hospital.
‘This is from a Dornie resident. Don’t know if the perpetrator is caught yet.’
Following the man’s arrest, police have described the situation as ‘contained’.
Speaking this afternoon, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: ‘We were made aware of a woman injured at a property in the Tarskavaig area on Skye shortly before 9am on Wednesday, August 10.
‘Police are also attending two further incidents in Teangue on Skye and Dornie which are being linked.
‘A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incidents. At this stage we believe the situation is contained and there is no risk to the wider community.’
Police were first alerted after they were called to reports of an injured woman in the Tarskavaig area of Skye (pictured)
Officers were then alerted to a second incident in nearby Teangue, which is also on the Isle of Skye (pictured)
Hamish Fraser, chairman of Broadford and Strath Community Council, said: ‘I’m shocked that such an incident has taken place in our island and within our close communities here.
‘Our immediate thoughts are with those who have been immediately affected by this terrible tragedy and broader communities who have to live with that over the next few years.’
Highland Council’s convener, Bill Lobban, added: ‘We are thankful to our emergency services colleagues for bringing this very serious and shocking incident to a close.
‘We will be providing support to the communities and our partners in every way possible.
‘The communities of Skye and Dornie will be shocked and saddened by these incidents and our thoughts are with the individuals affected.’
And Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross, an MSP for the Highlands and Islands region, said: ‘My heart goes out to all those affected by these appalling, related incidents on Skye and in the Lochalsh area.
‘I’d like to pay tribute to the prompt response and bravery of our emergency services who managed to prevent the situation escalating further. As ever, we are in their debt.’
‘We will be providing support to the communities and our partners in every way possible.
‘The communities of Skye and Dornie will be shocked and saddened by these incidents and our thoughts are with the individuals affected.’
Skye attracts 500,000 visitors-a-year with such natural features as The Fairy Pools and The Old Man of Storr.
Dornie is separated from Skye by the island’s famous bridge.
- Anyone who believes they may have any information which could help police enquiries is asked to call 101, quoting reference 0713 of 10 August, 2022, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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