Kentucky sheriff held over fatal shooting of judge in court

A Kentucky sheriff has been arrested after fatally shooting a judge in his chambers, police say.

District Judge Kevin Mullins died at the scene after being shot multiple times in the Letcher County Courthouse, Kentucky State Police said.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.

The shooting happened on Thursday after an argument inside the court, police said, but they have not yet revealed a motive.

Officials said Mullins, 54, was shot multiple times at around 14:00 local time on Thursday at the court in Whitesburg, Kentucky, about 150 miles (240km) south-east of Lexington.

Sheriff Stines was arrested at the scene without incident, Kentucky State Police said. Police did not reveal the nature of the argument before the shooting.

The state attorney general, Russell Coleman, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that his office "will fully investigate and pursue justice".

In a social media post announcing Judge Mullins' death on Thursday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said: "There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow."

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