This undated photo provided by a Kentucky court shows slain District Judge Kevin Mullins.
Kentucky State Court (AP)
A judge in a rural Kentucky county was shot and killed inside a courthouse on Thursday, police said, and the local sheriff was charged with murder.
A preliminary investigation revealed that Letcher County Sheriff Sean M. Stines shot District Judge Kevin Mullins multiple times after an argument inside the courthouse, according to Kentucky State Police. Mullins, who had been a judge for 15 years, died at the scene, and Stings surrendered safely.
The fatal shooting in Whitesburg shocked the Appalachian town and county seat of about 1,700 residents about 145 miles (235 kilometers) southeast of Lexington.
Chief County Prosecutor Matt Butler said he expressed deep sympathy for Mullins, who recused himself and his office from the investigation of the shooting, citing his social and family ties to Mullins.
“We all know each other here,” Butler said in a statement from his office. “Anyone from Letcher County will tell you that Judge Mullins and I are sisters and our children are cousins. Like Brothers and Sisters. “For this reason, among other things, I have taken steps to recuse myself and the entire office. “
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said his office will work with federal prosecutors in the region to serve as a special prosecutor in the criminal case.
“We will fully investigate and seek justice,” Coleman said on social media.
Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Lawrence B. Van Meter said he was “shocked by this act of violence” and that the court system was “shocked by the news.”
The Letcher County administrative judge signed an order Friday closing the county courthouse where the shooting occurred.
Mullins, 54, suffered multiple injuries in the shooting, Kentucky State Police said. Stings, 43, is charged with one count of first-degree murder. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
It’s unclear if Stings has an attorney. Kentucky State Police referred inquiries Thursday about Stings’ legal representation to a spokesman, who did not immediately respond via email.
Gov. Andy Beshear responded to the shooting in a social media post: “There is so much violence in this world and I pray that there is a path to a better tomorrow.”
Mullins has served as Letcher County district judge since being appointed by former Gov. Steve Beshear in 2009 and was elected the following year.
Mullins is known for promoting substance abuse treatment for people in the justice system and has helped hundreds of residents enter residential treatment, according to plans to speak at the 2022 Drug Summit. Addiction Recovery Care” program to help provide peer support services in court. The program has been adopted in at least 50 Kentucky counties.
Mullins also serves as a founding member of the Opioid Rehabilitation Supportive Care Response Leadership Group.
Several area schools were briefly placed on lockdown following the shooting.
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