A police officer enters court, requests to speak with the judge privately, and then kills him.

The small town of Whitesburg, Kentucky was rocked by a tragic and shocking event on Thursday afternoon. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines, a respected member of the community, is being accused of walking into the Letcher County Courthouse and fatally shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins. The incident occurred in Mullins' own chambers, while the courthouse was bustling with activity.

According to reports, Stines entered the courthouse and demanded to speak with Judge Mullins alone. He then proceeded to close the door of the judge's inner office and, moments later, gunshots were heard. Stines emerged with his hands in the air and surrendered to the police. He was then handcuffed in the courthouse foyer.

Meanwhile, emergency responders rushed to the scene and attempted to save Judge Mullins' life, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Kentucky State Police arrived at the courthouse after receiving a 911 call and quickly determined that an argument had taken place between Stines and Mullins.

Governor Andy Beshear expressed his condolences in a statement, saying, "Sadly, I have been informed that a district judge in Letcher County was shot and killed in his chambers this afternoon." The courthouse was immediately cordoned off with crime tape as the investigation began.

The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, but Stines has been charged with first-degree murder. The day after the incident, the Letcher County Courthouse was closed in honor of Judge Mullins and to allow for the investigation to continue.

Stines, who was elected as sheriff in 2018 and reelected in 2022, is well-known in the community and his actions have shocked and saddened many. On the other hand, Judge Mullins was appointed by Governor Beshear in 2009 and was highly respected for his work as a judge. He was known for his program that helped individuals with drug addictions by allowing them to enroll in inpatient treatment as part of their pretrial release.

In light of the tragic event, Letcher County Judge-Executive Terry Adams signed an executive order to close the courthouse on Friday. This incident has brought to mind a similar tragedy that occurred six years ago at the Fayette County Magistrate Court in Masontown, Pennsylvania, where one person was killed and four others were injured in a shootout.

As the investigation continues, the community of Whitesburg is left to grapple with the loss of Judge Mullins and try to come to terms with the shocking actions of Sheriff Stines. It serves as a reminder that violence has no place in our society and we must strive towards a better tomorrow.

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