A neighborhood sheriff has been charged with homicide within the deadly capturing of a Kentucky decide who was killed in his chambers on Thursday, in keeping with police.
District Choose Kevin Mullins, who presided over Letcher County, was shot and killed on the Letcher County Courthouse, Kentucky State Police mentioned.
Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines has been arrested and charged with homicide within the decide’s demise, state police mentioned.
A 911 caller reported photographs being fired contained in the courthouse shortly earlier than 3 p.m. ET, state police mentioned.
Responding officers and emergency personnel discovered Mullins, 54, with a number of gunshot wounds, state police mentioned. He had been shot in his chambers, in keeping with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Mullins was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
Stines, 43, allegedly shot Mullins “following an argument contained in the courthouse,” Kentucky State Police mentioned in an announcement.
He was taken into custody with out incident and has been charged with one depend of first-degree homicide. It’s unclear if he has an legal professional at the moment.
There are not any stories of any further accidents within the incident, Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart informed Johnson Metropolis, Tennessee, ABC affiliate WJHL.
A motive stays below investigation, he informed the station.
“It’s an remoted incident, and there’s no menace to the general public proper now,” Gayheart informed WJHL.
Kentucky Lawyer Common Russell Coleman mentioned his workplace will collaborate with the Commonwealth’s Lawyer for the twenty seventh Judicial Circuit, Jackie Steele, as particular prosecutors within the case.
“We’ll totally examine and pursue justice,” he mentioned in an announcement.
The Kentucky Court docket of Justice mentioned in an announcement Thursday it’s involved with regulation enforcement companies, together with the Kentucky State Police, and is “providing our full help throughout this troublesome time.”
“Whereas the investigation is ongoing, we’re dedicated to offering help in any approach that we are able to,” the assertion continued. “Our deepest sympathies exit to all these impacted by this tragic occasion, and our ideas and prayers are with the group throughout this difficult time.”
The courthouse can be closed on Friday, in keeping with an order by Letcher County Choose/Govt Terry Adams.
Mullins had served as district court docket decide for Kentucky’s forty seventh District Court docket, which presides over Letcher County, since 2009, when he was appointed by then-Gov. Steve Beshear.
He was a graduate of the College of Kentucky and earned his regulation diploma from the College of Louisville.
ABC Information’ Jack Date and Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.