Sheriff arrested and detained on suspicion of shooting a judge in his office

The sheriff of a southeastern Kentucky town was taken into custody after he shot and killed a district judge in his office Thursday afternoon, according to Kentucky State Police.

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News Center 7 is working to find out more about the sheriff and the possible reasons behind the shooting of 54-year-old Judge Kevin Mullins.

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The preliminary investigation indicates that Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, 43, shot Judge Mullins multiple times in his office following an argument at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, KSP spokesman Matt Gayheart said via social media.

KSP in Hazard received a 911 call from the courthouse around 2:55 p.m. reporting shots being fired from inside the building, Gayheart said.

According to witnesses, Stines asked for a private meeting with the judge, then closed the door and shot him. The sheriff came out of the courtroom with his hands raised and surrendered to the police.

Stines is charged with first-degree murder.

Gayheart said the investigation was ongoing but did not provide further details.

Mullins was a district judge for the 47th Judicial District. The court hears juvenile cases, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, misdemeanors, traffic violations, arraignments, probable cause hearings for felony offenses, and small claims with an amount in controversy of $2,500 or less. The court also hears civil cases, psychiatric commitments, and cases involving domestic violence and abuse.

Letcher County circuit and district courts are closed until further notice, according to an announcement posted on the court's website.

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