Eastern Kentucky sheriff charged with shooting, killing district judge inside judge’s chambers

An Eastern Kentucky sheriff was charged Thursday with shooting and killing a district judge inside the judge’s chambers at the courthouse in Whitesburg.

Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, of Jackhorn, was shot multiple times around 3:05 p.m. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, of McRoberts, was arrested without incident and charged with first-degree murder.

Police allege Stines shot Mullins after a short “personal” argument inside the courthouse, and then surrendered to police, said Kentucky State Police.

No other details about the argument were available Thursday night. It was not immediately clear who would serve as the top police officer in Letcher County while Stines is detained on the murder charge.

Mullins was the judge for the 47th District Court in Letcher County, and he was first elected in 2010.

Stines was elected as Letcher County Sheriff in 2019, according to The Mountain Eagle. He replaced the longest-serving sheriff in the county’s history, and told The Mountain Eagle earlier this year he planned to retire in three years at the end of his term.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman posted on social media that his office would assist as a special prosecutor in the case.

Much of downtown Whitesburg was shut down for hours Thursday evening, but authorities say they expected it to reopen by late Thursday.

Kentucky Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter said in a statement he was “shocked by this act of violence, and the court system is shaken by this news.”

“My prayers are with his family and the Letcher County community as they try to process and mourn this tragic loss,” VanMeter said.

Several area schools were briefly placed on lockdown after the shooting, including Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College and Letcher County Schools.

“We are saddened to hear of today’s tragedy in our community, and our thoughts are with our neighbors who have been impacted,” Patsy Jackson, interim president of Southeast KCTC, said in a statement. “We are grateful for the swift response of our employees during today’s situation.”

Kentucky courts officials also released a statement on the shooting that read: “The Kentucky Court of Justice is aware of a tragic incident that occurred today in Letcher County. We are currently in contact with law enforcement agencies, including Kentucky State Police, and are offering our full support during this difficult time.”

Whitesburg, population about 1,700, is nestled into the southeast corner of Kentucky, near the Virginia border. It’s home to the media, arts and education center Appalshop, and it’s about 150 miles from Lexington.