Kentucky sheriff allegedly shoots and kills judge in courthouse

 A Kentucky sheriff allegedly shot and killed a district judge after the two had an argument inside the judge’s chambers, according to CNN.

District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was found around 3 p.m. Thursday with multiple gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky, Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart said at a Thursday evening news conference.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, shot Mullins after an argument inside the judge’s chambers, a preliminary investigation revealed. Stines is now facing a first-degree murder charge, state police said. CNN is trying to determine whether Stines has retained an attorney.

Stines turned himself in after the shooting and was arrested at the scene without incident on Thursday, authorities said. He is cooperating with authorities, Gayheart said. It is unclear who will take over as the county sheriff following the arrest of Stines, who had been sheriff for about eight years.

“This community is small in nature, and we’re all shook,” Gayheart said about the shooting.

While other people were in the building at the time, no one else was inside the judge’s chambers and no other injuries were reported. There’s no threat to the public, Gayheart added.

Law enforcement has yet to release details about the argument that led up to the shots being fired, and the motive remains under investigation, Gayheart said, adding that the incident was “isolated.”

“We’re still trying to get answers to what led up to the actual shooting itself and the moments prior to the shooting,” Gayheart said.

The killing came less than two weeks after southeast Kentucky was rocked by a shooting at an interstate that wounded five people in Laurel County earlier this month. And just three days ago, a Russell Countydeputy had been killed in the line of duty, officials said.

“There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a social media post.

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