Whitesburg, KY — Tragedy struck in a small Kentucky town when a district judge was found dead in his courthouse office. The incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, has shocked the local community and prompted an intense law enforcement response.
Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, who served Letcher County, was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Kentucky State Police identified the shooter as Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, who was arrested at the courthouse without further incident.
Following the shooting, authorities charged Stines with one count of first-degree murder. The circumstances leading to the confrontation and subsequent shooting remain under investigation, with officials hesitant to discuss potential motives or the relationship between Mullins and Stines prior to the event.
In response to the violence, Letcher County Public Schools were placed under a mandatory lockdown as a precaution. The district reassured parents through online messages that although the situation was alarming, all students were safe and the shooter was in custody. The lockdown was lifted later in the day after coordination with state police.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that his office would assist in the prosecution of the case. Jackie Steele, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 27th Judicial Circuit, has been appointed as the special prosecutor.
The Kentucky Court of Justice acknowledged the devastating loss, expressing condolences and confirming their cooperation with ongoing law enforcement efforts. They pledged to keep the community informed as new details emerge.
This violent act has profoundly affected the residents of Whitesburg, prompting discussions on security measures within public buildings and the pressures faced by public officials. The community, while reeling from the incident, is pulling together, offering support to those impacted by the loss of Judge Mullins.
As the investigation unfolds, further details are expected to provide clarity on the motive and any preventive measures that could be implemented to avoid such tragedies in the future. Meanwhile, the legal proceedings against Sheriff Stines will likely unfold under intense scrutiny, given his role in law enforcement and the shocking nature of the alleged crime.