Kentucky sheriff arrested for fatal shooting of judge in court

A Kentucky sheriff was arrested after shooting a judge in his office, police said.

District Judge Kevin Mullins died at the scene after being shot multiple times at the Letcher County Courthouse, Kentucky State Police said.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, was charged with first-degree murder.

Police said the shooting occurred on Thursday after an argument in the courtroom. However, they have not yet commented on the motive.

According to officials, Mullins, 54, was shot multiple times at around 2 p.m. local time on Thursday in the courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky, a small rural town about 150 miles southeast of Lexington.

Sheriff Stines was arrested at the scene without incident, Kentucky State Police said. The nature of the dispute prior to the shooting was not disclosed.

Accordingly Local newspaper “The Mountain Eagle”Sheriff Stines entered the judge's antechamber and informed the court clerks that he needed to speak to Mullins alone.

The two entered the judge's chambers and closed the door behind them. People outside heard gunshots, the newspaper reported.

Sheriff Stines reportedly left the courtroom with his hands raised and surrendered to police. He was handcuffed in the courthouse lobby.

The state's Attorney General, Russell Coleman, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that his office would “fully investigate the case and seek justice.”

Matt Gayheart, spokesman for the Kentucky State Police, said at a press conference that the city was shocked by the incident

“This community is small by nature and we are all shocked,” he said.

Mr Gayheart said there were 50 staff members in the courthouse when the shooting occurred.

No one else was injured. A school in the area was temporarily cordoned off.

Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter said he was “shocked by this act of violence.”

When Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced Judge Mullins' death on social media, he said, “There is far too much violence in this world and I pray there is a path to a better future.”