A Kentucky sheriff has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a district judge in his courthouse chambers. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines allegedly shot Judge Kevin Mullins multiple times after an argument on Thursday, Sept. 19. Stines surrendered without incident and is being held on a first-degree murder charge.
Point phone camera here
The shooting occurred at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, a small town in southeastern Kentucky. Mullins, who had served as a district judge for 15 years, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kentucky State Police are investigating the incident, and the state attorney general’s office will collaborate with a special prosecutor on the case. Gov. Andy Beshear expressed condolences, saying, “There is far too much violence in this world” and praying for a “path to a better tomorrow.”
Mullins was known for his work in promoting substance abuse treatment and had helped hundreds of residents enter recovery programs.
Stines, who was elected sheriff in 2018, has been named a defendant in two federal cases, including a lawsuit alleging he failed to adequately train and supervise a deputy accused of sexual abuse.
The investigation is ongoing.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
A SHERIFF IN KENTUCKY IS ACCUSED OF KILLING A JUDGE INSIDE A COURTHOUSE ON THURSDAY.
IT HAPPENED IN THE RURAL TOWN OF WHITESBURG ABOUT 145 MILES SOUTHEAST OF LEXINGTON.
SHERIFF SHAWN STINES IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING DISTRICT JUDGE KEVIN MULLINS —
MULTIPLE TIMES DURING AN ARGUMENT — INSIDE THE JUDGE’S CHAMBERS.
KENTUCKY STATE POLICE SAY MULLINS DIED AT THE SCENE — WITH STINES SURRENDERING TO AUTHORITIES.
STINES HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ARE STILL INVESTIGATING WHAT LED UP TO THE KILLING.
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