Sheriff arrested after Kentucky judge shot in office

A Kentucky sheriff has been arrested and charged with murder for allegedly shooting a judge in his office on Thursday.

Police were called to Letcher District Court around 3 p.m. on Thursday and found 54-year-old District Judge Kevin Mullins suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Kentucky State Police, 43-year-old Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines shot Mullins after an argument at the courthouse.

Stines has been charged with murder. His name does not yet appear in county jail records and it is unclear if he currently has an attorney.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the shooting occurred in Judge Mullins' office.

“There is far too much violence in this world and I pray that there is a way to a better future,” he said wrote in a statement on X.

According to official information, the shooting was an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public.

The Kentucky Attorney General's Office and 27th Judicial District Attorney Jackie Steele will work together as special prosecutors to prosecute the case against Stines.

“We will investigate the matter thoroughly and strive for justice,” said the Attorney General wrote in a statement.

“This is news to me,” said Trooper Matt Gayheart, a spokesman for the Kentucky State Police The Washington Post“This is the only incident of this kind that I have heard of in this county.”

Judicial officials mourned their lost colleague.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to all those affected by this tragic event, and our thoughts and prayers are with the community during this difficult time,” the Kentucky court wrote in a statement.

According to the Associated Press, Mullins was known for advocating for treatment options for drug addicts in the justice system.

According to local authorities, the Letcher County Courthouse will be closed on Friday.

Stines was first elected sheriff in 2018 and re-elected four years later.

The shooting came a day after Kentucky police said they found what they believed to be the body of Joseph A. Couch, 32, who is accused of opening fire and wounding five people on nearby I-75 earlier this month.