Kentucky judge shot dead in office, sheriff charged with murder

Kevin Mullins, a local judge in Kentucky was shot and killed in his office on Sept. 19. The suspect, identified as Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, has been charged with murder following the fatal incident.

According to AFP, a police spokesperson confirmed that an altercation took place between Shawn Stines and 54-year-old Kevin Mullins in the judge's office, which escalated into a shooting. Investigators have not yet disclosed the specific motive behind the attack.

As reported by The New York Times, the shooting occurred around 2:55 p.m. on the afternoon of Sept. 19. Sheriff Stines allegedly fired multiple shots at Judge Mullins after their altercation, killing him at the scene. Following the shooting, Stines surrendered to police and is currently being held at a local jail.

The incident adds to the growing number of firearm-related violence across the US. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, 2024 has so far seen 397 mass shootings, with over 1,000 children and teenagers killed due to gun violence.

The organization defines a mass shooting as an event where four or more people are killed or injured by gunfire.

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