Police have launched a murder investigation after a dog walker was shot dead in broad daylight near Aberfeldy.
Brian Low, 65, from Aberfeldy, was shot as he walked his dog in the Pitilie area on the outskirts of the town at around 8.30am on February 17.
Police Scotland has now launched a murder investigation named Operation Newlane after a post-mortem confirmed Mr Low – who worked as a groundsman on nearby Edradynate Estate for more than 20 years – had been shot.
The death had initially been treated as unexplained, pending the outcome of the post-mortem.
Brian Low walking dog on remote track before Aberfeldy murder
Detective Chief Inspector Martin Macdougall, of the Major Investigation Team, said: “Our thoughts are with Brian’s family at this very difficult time and we are doing all we can to get them answers.
“We have been carrying out extensive inquiries since Brian’s death and detectives are working alongside uniformed officers to establish the full circumstances.
“Our inquiries so far have revealed that Brian was out walking his black Labrador along a remote track, shortly before 8.30am when he was fatally shot.
“Although this is a remote location, we would be keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time.
“I am also appealing directly to the local community, who might have information that could help.
“Anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant they feel it may be, should come forward and speak to detectives.
“Please do not assume that the police already know the information you have.”
Local Area Commander Greg Burns said: “I understand this is an extremely concerning incident for this small, rural community.
“I want to take this opportunity to reassure people that we are working round the clock to find out what happened to Brian.
“We will have additional high-visibility patrols in the area and you will see significant police activity over the coming days.
“Anyone with any concerns can approach these officers at any time.”
Detectives have set up an online portal to encourage members of the public to submit information.
Edradynate Estate pays tribute to former worker of more than 20 years
A spokesperson for Edradynate Estate, which is a few miles outside Aberfeldy, told The Courier: “Brian Low worked for us for the past 20 years on the estate as a groundsman.
“We are very sad and shocked at these disturbing events.
“I have known him for many years and he worked with us until around this time last year.
“We do not know what happened. We knew he had died obviously but this news has created another level of shock.
“We are still trying to process all the details.
“We have already offered our condolences to his family and we are continuing to support them.”
Aberfeldy ‘shocked to its core’ by ‘utterly horrifying’ incident
Horrified locals expressed their shock at the news, saying they heard Mr Low had died but did not know about the shooting.
One man told The Courier: “It has come as a massive shock.
“I’d imagine folk will be scared given the circumstances.
“The area is popular with walkers. We only became of police carrying out inquiries on Saturday.”
Another said: “We all thought he had taken ill when he was out with his dog.
“Nobody was expecting to be told it was murder.”
Another resident said the police announcement had taken everyone by surprise.
“He was well known around Aberfeldy and we all thought he had died naturally from a heart attack or something,” he added.
“It was only today that the word murder was mentioned. No one had even thought about that before now.
“I know the police have been going round the gamekeepers asking about guns and stuff. There’s been a lot of police activity in the last few days. No one really knows what’s going on though.”
John Swinney, MSP for the area, said: “This is a devastating and serious announcement and I express my sympathy to the family of Brian Low.
“I have spoken with Police Scotland and sought reassurance that an appropriate police presence will be in place to ensure community safety.”
MP Pete Wishart said: “This is an utterly horrifying incident which will have shocked the close-knit community of Aberfeldy to its core.”
Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: “Incidents like this are almost unheard of in Highland Perthshire and I’m sure the community of Aberfeldy will be shocked to hear of this murder.”
From Courier reporter James Simpson at the scene
“The scene of the murder is in a remote area outside the town.
“There are very few houses around and it is a bit of a walk off the main road to reach the police cordon.
“There is a large area taped off around the site of the shooting.
“Officers are standing guard at the entrance to the tree-lined path, where there is a trailer and a police 4×4.
“A police van is parked further down the track.
“A small grey tent is also set up on the path.
“Those I have spoken to so far say police have been going door to door at the few houses that are in the area in recent days.
“But most of the locals have been reluctant to speak to us, clearly in shock at what has taken place.”
