A Kentucky sheriff has been arrested for allegedly fatally shooting a judge in his chambers, according to police reports.
District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was shot multiple times and died at the scene within the Letcher County Courthouse, as confirmed by the Kentucky State Police.
Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, has been charged with first-degree murder following the incident, which occurred after an argument in court.
The police have not disclosed the motive behind the confrontation.
The shooting took place around 2:00 PM local time on Thursday in Whitesburg, a small town located approximately 150 miles southeast of Lexington.
Reports from the local newspaper, the Mountain Eagle, indicate that Sheriff Stines entered the judge’s outer office and requested to speak privately with Mullins.
After they entered the judge’s chambers and closed the door, witnesses outside heard gunshots.
Sheriff Stines exited the chambers with his hands raised, surrendering to authorities without resistance. He was subsequently handcuffed in the courthouse foyer.
Kentucky State Attorney General Russell Coleman stated via X (formerly Twitter) that his office “will fully investigate and pursue justice” in this case.
The shooting has left the community in shock, with Kentucky State Police spokesman Matt Gayheart remarking, “This community is small in nature, and we’re all shook.”
At the time of the shooting, around 50 court employees were present, but fortunately, no one else was injured. A nearby school was briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter expressed his disbelief at the violence, stating he was “shocked by this act of violence.”
In a social media post, Governor Andy Beshear mourned Judge Mullins’ death, saying, “There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow.”
Source-BBC
