Kentucky sheriff killed judge in his chambers following an argument, police say. Here’s what we know

Dalia Faheid, Cindy Von Quednow and Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN

(CNN) — Investigators are trying to find what motivated a Kentucky sheriff to allegedly sprout and kill a territory judge aft nan 2 had an statement wrong nan judge’s chambers, according to Kentucky State Police.

District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was recovered astir 3 p.m. Thursday pinch aggregate gunshot wounds and pronounced dormant astatine nan Letcher County courthouse successful Whitesburg, Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart said astatine a Thursday evening news conference.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, changeable Mullins aft an statement wrong nan judge’s chambers, a preliminary constabulary investigation revealed. Stines is now facing a first-degree execution charge, authorities constabulary said. CNN is trying to find whether Stines has an attorney.

Stines turned himself successful aft nan shooting and was arrested astatine nan segment without incident connected Thursday, authorities said. He is cooperating pinch authorities, Gayheart said. It is unclear who will return complete arsenic nan region sheriff pursuing nan apprehension of Stines, who had been sheriff for astir 8 years.

“This organization is mini successful nature, and we’re each shook,” Gayheart said.

While different group were successful nan building astatine nan time, nary 1 other was wrong nan judge’s chambers and nary different injuries were reported. There’s nary threat to nan public, Gayheart added.

Law enforcement has yet to merchandise specifications astir nan statement that led up to nan shots being fired, and nan motive remains under investigation, Gayheart said, adding that the incident was “isolated.”

Stines is jailed successful adjacent Leslie County. It is not clear erstwhile Stines will person his first tribunal quality because arraignments for crimes committed successful Letcher County would usually beryllium handled by Judge Mullins, Jackie Steele, nan commonwealth’s lawyer who has been assigned to nan case, told CNN connected Friday.

“The past connection I sewage from nan Court strategy was that they were looking for a judge to return nan lawsuit and that nan arraignment will beryllium adjacent week, but nan day and clip is chartless astatine this time,” Steele told CNN by email Friday.

The sidesplitting came little than 2 weeks aft southeast Kentucky was rocked by a shooting astatine an interstate that wounded 5 group successful Laurel County earlier this month. And conscionable 3 days ago, a Russell County lawman had been killed successful nan statement of duty, officials said.

“There is acold excessively overmuch unit successful this world, and I believe location is simply a way to a amended tomorrow,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said successful a social media post.

Here’s what we cognize astir nan 2 men, nan sidesplitting and nan investigation truthful far:

What we cognize astir Mullins and Stines

Mullins, a resident of Jackhorn, served arsenic a district judge for Kentucky’s 47th District Court successful Letcher County since being appointed by erstwhile Gov. Steve Beshear successful 2009, according to the Associated Press. He was elected a twelvemonth later, past re-elected in 2014, 2018 and again successful 2022.

Before his judicial appointment, Mullins served arsenic adjunct commonwealth’s lawyer successful Letcher County and chiefly focused connected drug-related offenses, according to CNN affiliate WKYT. He was admitted to the bar in 1995.

The territory judge started promoting constituent maltreatment curen for group progressive successful nan justness strategy successful 2010, according to Kentucky nonprofit SOAR. Hundreds person been sent to inpatient supplier curen centers done his help, the Associated Press reported.

Addiction Recovery Care, which provides residential and outpatient supplier and intoxicant addiction curen successful Eastern and Central Kentucky, began to activity intimately pinch Mullins successful 2018 to supply accelerated entree to curen done a organization liaison successful nan courthouse, according to SOAR. The programme was adopted successful astatine slightest 50 counties successful Kentucky, nan AP reported. He was besides nan founding personnel of an opioid betterment support team.

Stines, a resident of McRoberts, was first elected arsenic sheriff successful 2018 and past re-elected successful 2022. Earlier this month, nan sheriff highlighted nan agency’s work, including recent drug busts.

“Thank you to nan awesome citizens of Letcher County, for allowing america to service you and providing america pinch accusation to thief drawback fugitives and assisting america pinch getting narcotics disconnected our streets,” Stines wrote successful a Facebook station connected September 4.

An statement wrong nan judge’s chambers

An investigation into really nan fatal shooting unfolded – and what nan statement betwixt nan 2 men was astir – is underway, authorities constabulary said Thursday.

“We cognize that it was an statement betwixt nan 2 that led up – but what precisely transpired anterior to nan shots being fired, those are still things that we’re trying to get answers to,” Gayheart said.

There are cameras wrong nan building and each witnesses will beryllium interviewed, Gayheart said Thursday.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman indicated Thursday his agency will activity pinch Steele arsenic typical prosecutors connected nan case.

“We will afloat analyse and prosecute justice,” Coleman said.

Mullins’ assemblage will beryllium sent to nan aesculapian examiner’s office, according to Gayheart.

Killing shakes mini Kentucky community

Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter said successful a statement he was “shocked” by Mullins’ sidesplitting and nan tribunal was near “shaken.”

“My prayers are pinch his family and nan Letcher County organization arsenic they effort to process and mourn this tragic loss,” VanMeter said.

Matt Butler, commonwealth’s lawyer for Letcher County, will beryllium recusing himself from nan sheriff’s prosecution because his woman is nan sister of Mullins’ wife, Butler said successful a statement Thursday evening.

He described nan sheriff and nan judge arsenic “two men that I person worked pinch for seventeen years and loved for illustration brothers.”

“We each cognize each different here. For example, anyone from Letcher County would show you that Judge Mullins and I joined a brace of sisters and that we person children who are first cousins but enactment for illustration siblings,” Butler said.

“Please believe for Judge Mullins’ family and my children. Ian and Ivy person cried and cried and begged to spot their uncle,” he added. “My organization is wholly devastated.”

As a consequence of nan shooting, circuit and territory courts, arsenic good arsenic nan agency of nan circuit tribunal clerk will beryllium closed until operations tin resume, Kentucky Courts officials said Thursday. Letcher County schools and nan Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College were besides placed connected a little lockdown aft nan shooting, according to nan Associated Press.