A Kentucky sheriff has been arrested for fatally shooting a judge in his chambers, according to police reports. District Judge Kevin Mullins was shot multiple times at the Letcher County Courthouse and died at the scene, Kentucky State Police confirmed.
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, has been charged with first-degree murder. The incident occurred on Thursday following an argument inside the court, though police have not disclosed the motive. Judge Mullins, 54, was shot around 2:00 PM local time in Whitesburg, Kentucky, a small town approximately 150 miles southeast of Lexington.
Sheriff Stines was arrested at the scene without incident. Witnesses reported that he entered the judge’s outer office and requested to speak privately with Mullins. After they entered the judge’s chambers and closed the door, gunshots were heard from outside.
Following the shooting, Sheriff Stines emerged with his hands raised and surrendered to police. He was handcuffed in the courthouse foyer.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman stated on social media that his office would “fully investigate and pursue justice” in this case. Kentucky State Police spokesman Matt Gayheart described the community as shocked, noting that approximately 50 employees were present in the courthouse during the incident, but no one else was injured. An area school was briefly placed on lockdown.
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter expressed his shock over the violence, while Governor Andy Beshear lamented the prevalence of violence in society, saying, “I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow.”
or a specific category with our 
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.