The Daily Populous Friday September 20th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by wkyt.com and submitted by MisterEmergency

LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT/WKYT) - A Kentucky sheriff is charged with the murder of a district court judge.

According to Kentucky State Police, at around 2:55 Thursday afternoon, they received a 9-1-1 call from the Letcher County Courthouse in reference to shots being fired from inside the building.

Several law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services responded to the scene and located District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, with multiple gunshot wounds.

KSP says lifesaving measures were attempted but unsuccessful. Mullins was pronounced dead on scene by the Letcher County Coroner’s Office.

KSP’s preliminary investigation indicates that Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines, 43, shot Mullins following an argument inside the courthouse.

They say Stines was taken into custody at the scene without incident.

Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines (left) and District Judge Kevin Mullins (right). (WKYT)

Stines has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.

Law enforcement officials give update outside of courthouse on Kentucky judge's death

Before being appointed by Gov. Steve Beshear in 2009, Mullins was an assistant commonwealth attorney for nine and a half years. As a prosecutor, he primarily focused on drug-related offenses. As a judge, Mullins gained attention for his efforts to treat those with drug addictions rather than keeping them behind bars. In 2010, he started a program allowing inmates with substance use disorders to enroll in inpatient treatment as a condition of their pretrial release.

Stines was elected as the Sheriff of Letcher County in 2018 and reelected in 2022.

In a social media post, Attorney General Russell Coleman announced that his office will collaborate with the commonwealth’s attorney for the 27th Judicial Circuit, Jackie Steele, as special prosecutors in this case.

Governor Andy Beshear addressed the situation Friday morning during a press conference for another matter:

Governor Andy Beshear addressed the deadly shooting of a Kentucky judge during a press conference Friday morning.

Letcher County Judge-Executive Terry Adams announced in a social media post that he signed an executive order to close the courthouse for Friday.

Copyright 2024 WKYT. All rights reserved.

star9ho on September 19th, 2024 at 23:46 UTC »

America has a real sheriff problem y'all

Xanthus179 on September 19th, 2024 at 23:12 UTC »

Congratulations to the nearby county that is about to hire this guy.

PARDON_howdoyoudo on September 19th, 2024 at 23:01 UTC »

County sheriff shooting a county judge is nuts!