WHITESBURG, KY – A local Sheriff reportedly shot and killed a District Judge at a courthouse on Thursday afternoon, according to officials present at the scene. Kentucky State Police informed the media that the alleged shooter, Sheriff Mickey Stines, had been taken into custody for the fatal shooting of Judge Kevin Mullins.
The incident took place around 3 p.m. in Judge Mullins’ district office. As per police, Stines, who is currently serving his second term as Sheriff, is likely to be charged with murder. However, the authorities did not give any reasons or motives for the shocking occurrence.
State Trooper Matt Gayheart highlighted that the investigators are trying to uncover the events that escalated to the shooting. Preliminary information suggests an argument between Stines and Judge Mullins, leading to the latter being shot multiple times. There were other individuals present in the courthouse when the incident transpired, but there were no others in the Judge’s chambers. Stines subsequently surrendered himself to the authorities at the scene.
The horrifying occurrence has sent shockwaves across Whitesburg, a small town located approximately 200 miles southeast of Louisville. Neither Mullins’ nor Stines’ families were available for comment.
Judge Mullins had been handling juveniles, city ordinances, county ordinances, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, arraignments, felony probable cause hearings, claims involving amounts up to $2,500, civil cases with claims of up to $5,000, voluntary and involuntary mental commitments, and domestic violence cases as a judge in the 47th Judicial District according to the Letcher County website.
The Kentucky Court of Justice extended its sympathies to all those affected by the shooting incident and reiterated their commitment to providing their utmost assistance to the ongoing state police investigation. Additionally, Attorney General Russell Coleman pledged a thorough investigation into the matter, expressing his commitment to securing justice.