Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines allegedly shot District Judge Kevin Mullins in his chambers. Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) confirmed Mullins’s death in a post on X.

“Sadly, I have been informed that a district judge in Letcher County was shot and killed in his chambers this afternoon,” he said. “There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow.”

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman vowed to “pursue justice” in the case.

“Following the deadly shooting in Letcher County, our Office will collaborate with Commonwealth’s Attorney for the 27th Judicial Circuit Jackie Steele as special prosecutors in this case,” Coleman said.

“We will fully investigate and pursue justice,” he added.

Stines allegedly walked into the judge’s office and asked to speak with him alone, according to the Mountain Eagle. After the office door was shut, those outside heard shots, and police came to the scene. Stines was arrested after he surrendered to police.

Mullins was appointed to his position by former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear in 2009 and served as assistant commonwealth attorney for nearly 10 years before that.

Voters elected Stines as sheriff of Letcher County in 2018 and reelected him in 2022. Letcher County is in eastern Kentucky on the state’s border with Virginia.