A Kentucky judge was fatally shot in his chambers on Thursday and a sheriff has been charged with his murder.
Allison Ball, the State Auditor of Public Accounts for the Commonwealth, confirmed that the victim was District Judge Kevin Mullins in a post on X.
In a press conference on Thursday night, Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart reported that officers received a call about gunfire inside the Letcher County courthouse shortly before 3:00 p.m.
“Multiple law enforcement agencies from the area, along with emergency services, responded and discovered District Judge Kevin Mullins with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save his life, they were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Letcher County Coroner’s Office,” he said.
Gayheart noted that an initial investigation indicated that Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, allegedly shot Mullins, 54, after an argument inside the courthouse.
While Gayheart confirmed that officials have yet to determine a motive and that the investigation is ongoing, he stated that Stines was arrested at the scene without incident shortly after authorities arrived.
Sheriff Stines is currently in custody where he faces one count of first-degree murder.
