A Kentucky sheriff has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after shooting and killing a district judge during an argument in the courthouse Thursday afternoon. Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, 43, is accused of fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins inside his chambers, Kentucky State Police said.
The incident took place in Whitesburg, a small town southeast of Louisville. Authorities were alerted to the shooting by a 911 call, and officers arrived to find Mullins, 54, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene after unsuccessful life-saving efforts.
State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart said the sheriff turned himself in at the courthouse without resistance and has been cooperating with the investigation. “This community is small in nature, and we’re all shook,” Gayheart remarked, underscoring the impact on the close-knit community.
Officials are still trying to determine the motive behind the deadly argument. Gov. Andy Beshear (D) condemned the violence in a statement, calling for an end to such tragedies. Attorney General Russell Coleman also vowed to investigate thoroughly, working with local prosecutors to seek justice for Mullins.
Judge Mullins had served as part of the 47th Judicial District since 2010 and had recently taken on a new role in a state judicial commission focused on mental health. Sheriff Stines was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Investigators are interviewing witnesses to piece together what led to the fatal shooting.
