A Kentucky sheriff has been arrested after allegedly fatally shooting a district judge in his chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse.
District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene after being shot multiple times during an incident that unfolded around 14:00 local time on Thursday in Whitesburg, a small town approximately 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Lexington.
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, and police have not disclosed the nature of the argument that preceded the incident.
According to reports from local newspaper the Mountain Eagle, Sheriff Stines entered the judge’s outer office and requested to speak privately with Mullins. They subsequently entered the judge’s chambers, closing the door behind them. Witnesses outside the chamber heard gunshots shortly thereafter.
Sheriff Stines reportedly emerged with his hands raised and surrendered to police without incident. He was handcuffed in the courthouse foyer. Kentucky State Police confirmed the sheriff’s arrest at the scene.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman stated that his office would “fully investigate and pursue justice” regarding the incident. Matt Gayheart, a spokesman for the Kentucky State Police, expressed the shock felt by the small community, noting that around 50 employees were present in the courthouse during the shooting, but no other injuries were reported.
A nearby school was briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B VanMeter expressed his dismay at the act of violence, stating that it was shocking.
Governor Andy Beshear, in a social media post announcing Judge Mullins’ death, lamented the pervasive violence in society, stating, “There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow.”
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