Chief Supervisor Conrad Trickett.
A man who died after a series of incidents in Skye and Wester Ross yesterday has been named as 47-year-old John MacKinnon.
Three other people, a 32-year-old woman, a 63-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man, were injured.
A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with all the incidents, which are being treated as related and there is no threat to the wider community.
Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, local police commander for the Highlands and Islands Division, said: “Everyone’s thoughts 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 on friends and neighbors who live in these communities.
“The serious incidents that were witnessed yesterday are extremely rare and I would like to further reassure the local communities that they were dealt with and that there is no further threat to the local population.
“The police response was significant as people would expect and involved national resources from across Scotland including Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow to support local policing in Skye and Lochalsh.
“Local officers who live and work in these communities brought the situation to a conclusion as quickly as possible and I thank everyone involved, including colleagues from the Scottish Ambulance Service, for their outstanding efforts in responding to a series of distressing incidents.
“The investigation, led by Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, is complex and challenging and I would also like to thank local communities for their understanding and co-operation as we work through our enquiries.
“Given the scale of the investigation and the fact that we are dealing with a number of different locations, a considerable police presence will be maintained for the foreseeable future.
“We are working with local partners, including Highland Council and NHS Highland, to provide support and wellbeing for those affected by yesterday’s events and I would urge anyone with any concerns or concerns to speak to our officers who are there to help.”
Police were initially called to the Tarskavaig area of Skye shortly before 9am yesterday following a report of a 32-year-old woman who had been seriously injured at a property.
She was taken to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital for treatment and remains in a serious condition.
Another incident at a property in the Teangue area of Skye was reported shortly after 9.30am after a firearm had been discharged.
Emergency services attended but Mr MacKinnon was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers later attended a property in the Dornie area of Wester Ross following a further discharge of a firearm at a property.
The 63-year-old man was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to be treated for serious injuries and remains in a critical condition.
The 63-year-old woman was taken to Broadford Hospital and has been released after treatment.
Anyone with information about the incidents should call 101, quoting reference 0713 of 10 August 2022, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
