Kentucky judge shot, killed in his chambers; sheriff charged with murder

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT/WKYT) – A Kentucky sheriff is charged with the murder of a district court judge.

According to Kentucky State Police, at around 2:55 Thursday afternoon, they received a 9-1-1 call from the Letcher County Courthouse in reference to shots being fired from inside the building.

Several law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services responded to the scene and located District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, with multiple gunshot wounds.

KSP says lifesaving measures were attempted but unsuccessful.

Mullins was pronounced dead on scene by the Letcher County Coroner’s Office.

KSP’s preliminary investigation indicates that Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines, 43, shot Mullins following an argument inside the courthouse.

They say Stines was taken into custody at the scene without incident.

Stines has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Before being appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear in 2009, Mullins was an assistant commonwealth attorney for nine and a half years. As a prosecutor, he primarily focused on drug-related offenses. As a judge, Mullins gained attention for his efforts to treat those with drug addictions rather than keeping them behind bars. In 2010, he started a program allowing inmates with substance use disorders to enroll in inpatient treatment as a condition of their pretrial release.

Stines was elected as the Sheriff of Letcher County in 2018 and reelected in 2022.

In a social media post, Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that his office will collaborate with the commonwealth’s attorney for the 27th Judicial Circuit, Jackie Steele, as special prosecutors in this case.

Letcher County Judge-Executive Terry Adams announced in a social media post that he signed an executive order to close the courthouse for Friday.

This is a developing story.

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