A Kentucky sheriff was arrested after a district judge was shot and killed in a US courthouse

Judge Kevin Mullins was shot and killed in his office, and Sheriff Shawn Stines has been charged with first-degree murder.

A sheriff in Kentucky has been arrested on suspicion of killing a district judge in his office at the Letcher County Courthouse.

District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was shot several times during an incident that happened in Whitesburg, a small town about 150 miles (240 km) southeast of Lexington on Thursday at 14:00 local time. He was declared dead at the scene.

Officer Shawn Stines, 43, of Letcher County has been charged with one count of first-degree murder. The reason for the shooting is still unknown, and cops have not said what kind of argument happened before the shooting.

The Mountain Eagle, a local newspaper, said that Sheriff Stines went into the judge’s outer room and asked to speak with Mullins alone. After that, they went into the judge’s office and shut the door behind them. Shortly after, people outside the room heard gunshots.

Sheriff Stines allegedly came out with his hands up and gave himself up to the police without a fight. He was arrested in front of the courthouse. At the scene, Kentucky State Police reported that the sheriff had been arrested.

Russell Coleman, the attorney general of Kentucky, said that his office would “fully investigate and pursue justice” in relation to the event. Matt Gayheart, a spokesman for the Kentucky State Police, said that the small town was shocked. He said that about 50 workers were in the courthouse during the shooting, but no one else was hurt.

As a safety measure, a nearby school was locked down for a short time.

Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court Laurance B. VanMeter said that he was shocked and appalled by the violent act.

Governor Andy Beshear wrote on social media that there is “far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow” after announcing Judge Mullins’ death.