By A local sheriff has been charged with murder following the fatal shooting of a district judge inside a Kentucky courthouse on Thursday, state police reported.
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, is accused of shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, multiple times after an argument in the judge’s chambers at the Whitesburg courthouse. Kentucky State Police said Mullins died at the scene, while Stines surrendered without incident.
The shooting sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Appalachian community of about 1,700 residents, located 145 miles southeast of Lexington.
Lead county prosecutor Matt Butler recused himself and his office from the investigation, citing close personal ties to Mullins. “We all know each other here,” Butler said in a statement, revealing that he and Mullins were brothers-in-law.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced his office will collaborate with regional prosecutors to handle the case. “We will fully investigate and pursue justice,” Coleman stated on social media.
Mullins, who had served as district judge since 2009, was known for his efforts in promoting substance abuse treatment within the justice system. He helped develop the Addiction Recovery Care program, which was adopted in at least 50 Kentucky counties.
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter expressed shock at the “act of violence,” saying the court system was “shaken by this news.”
Governor Andy Beshear commented on social media: “There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow.”
The Letcher County courthouse has been closed for Friday as the investigation continues. Stines faces one count of first-degree murder, with further details about his legal representation not immediately available.
