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Kentucky authorities are investigating after Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines has reportedly been charged with fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins inside a courthouse.
According to USA Today, Sheriff Shawn M. Stines has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.
According to the outlet, the shooting occurred during the afternoon of Thursday, September 19. According to a Facebook blurb reposted by the Kentucky State Police, authorities received a 9-1-1 call around 2:55 p.m. The call was reportedly “in reference to shots being fired from inside the building.”
Once “several law enforcement agencies” and “emergency medical services” arrived at the courthouse, they reportedly found Judge Kevin Mullins “with multiple gunshot wounds.”
“Lifesaving measures were attempted but unsuccessful. Mullins was pronounced deceased on scene by the Letcher County Coroners Office,” authorities’ Facebook repost asserts.
Additionally, the statement notes that a preliminary investigation has determined that Sheriff Stines fatally shot Judge Mullins after “an argument inside the courthouse.”
Per USA Today, on Thursday, the governor of the state, Andy Beshear, reacted to the shooting with a statement shared via X, formerly known as Twitter.
Ultimately, the Kentucky State Police reiterated via Facebook that their investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
As the investigation into Kentucky gets underway, another shooting in Winder, Georgia, has recently captured nationwide headlines. As The Shade Room previously reported, on September 4, a 14-year-old student, Colt Gray, initiated gunfire at Apalachee High School.
Subsequently, two 14-year-old students and two teachers lost their lives. Additionally, Colt’s father, Colin, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and child cruelty, while the 14-year-old was charged with four felony counts of murder, per The Shade Room.
Authorities reportedly believe Colin allowed his son to possess a weapon despite being informed of school shooting threats suspected to have been made by him in 2023.
Most recently, David Phenix, a math teacher at Apalachee, broke his silence about the tragic incident after reportedly being hospitalized for over a week for gunshot wounds.
