A shocking incident unfolded in a Kentucky courthouse on Thursday afternoon when Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, 43, fatally shot Judge Kevin Mullins following an argument. The Kentucky State Police have charged Stines with first-degree murder.
According to police, they received a call about shots fired at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, a small town southeast of Louisville. When officers arrived, they found Judge Mullins, 54, with several gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save him, Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene.
Trooper Matt Gayheart of the Kentucky State Police said the sheriff surrendered at the scene without resistance. Stines was taken into custody and transferred to a local jail, where he has cooperated with investigators.
Gayheart emphasized the deep impact this incident has had on the community, noting, “This community is small in nature, and we’re all shook.” Police are still investigating what led to the argument between Stines and Mullins. Gayheart assured the public that there is no further threat.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) reacted to the tragedy, calling for a reduction in violence and praying for a “better tomorrow.” Attorney General Russell Coleman echoed this sentiment, stating his office will work closely with local prosecutors to investigate the case fully.
Judge Mullins was elected in 2010 and had been serving the 47th Judicial District. He was also recently appointed to a state mental health commission. Sheriff Stines, first elected in 2018, was re-elected in 2022. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the altercation.
