It was on Thursday, September 19, when a judge in Kentucky was shot and passed away in his chambers. A sheriff has been charged with murder in connection with the incident.
In an article published on X, the State Auditor of Public Accounts of the Commonwealth, Allison Ball, revealed that the passed individual was identified as District Judge Kevin Mullins.
During a news conference held on Thursday evening, Trooper Matt Gayheart of the Kentucky State Police said that police got a report regarding shots being fired inside the Letcher County courthouse just before three o’clock in the afternoon.
A number of police enforcement agencies from the surrounding region, in addition to emergency services, rushed to the location and discovered District Judge Kevin Mullins suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Interventions that might have saved lives were attempted, but they were unsuccessful. According to him, the Letcher County Coroner’s Office made the determination that he had passed away at the scene.
As stated by Gayheart, an initial investigation revealed that Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, who is 43 years old, reportedly fired shots at Mullins, who is 54 years old, “following an argument inside the courthouse.”
Despite the fact that Gayheart said that authorities have not been able to determine a motive and that the investigation is still underway, he did affirm that Stines was “arrested on scene without incident shortly after officials arrive.”
Sheriff Stines was taken into custody and sent to a correctional institution after being put under arrest. According to Gayheart, he was charged with one offense of murder in the first degree that was committed.
Additional confirmation of the story was provided by Trooper Gayheart of the Kentucky State Police in a press release.
The 47th District Judicial District is responsible for overseeing “ordinances, misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, probate of wills, arraignments, felony probable cause hearings, small claims involving $2,500 or less, civil cases involving $5,000 or less, voluntary and involuntary mental commitments, and cases relating to domestic violence and abuse,” as stated on a website for Letcher County. Mullins served as the administrative judge for this district.
In a message that he posted on Facebook, Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter of the Kentucky Supreme Court exclaimed that he was “shocked by this act of violence, and the court system is shaken by this news.”
As a result of the fatal shooting that occurred in Letcher County, our office will work along with Jackie Steele, who is the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 27th Judicial Circuit, to act as special prosecutors who are investigating this matter. On X, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is quoted as saying, “We will conduct a comprehensive investigation and pursue justice.”
On Friday, September 20, the county courthouse was shut down by an order that was issued by Terry Adams, the judge and executive of Lexer County.
