US Sheriff Shot Dead Judge, Accused of Murder

In the southern US state of Kentucky, a county sheriff was accused of shooting and killing a district court judge. On Thursday, the sheriff was charged with murder.

The Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper stated that Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines was placed under arrest in relation to a gunshot that occurred at the Letcher County courtroom.

According to CBS News, he was charged with one count of first-degree murder.

The source was informed by a police spokesperson that the shooting happened following a disagreement between judge Kevin Mullins, 54, and Stines in the latter’s office.

A motive has not yet been disclosed by the investigators.

In the southern US state of Kentucky, a county sheriff was accused of shooting and killing a district court judge. On Thursday, the sheriff was charged with murder.

The Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper stated that Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines was placed under arrest in relation to a gunshot that occurred at the Letcher County courtroom.

According to CBS News, he was charged with one count of first-degree murder.

The source was informed by a police spokesperson that the shooting happened following a disagreement between judge Kevin Mullins, 54, and Stines in the latter’s office.

A motive has not yet been disclosed by the investigators.

The shooting was confirmed by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“I regret to inform you that this afternoon in his chambers a district judge from Letcher County was shot and killed,” Beshear stated.

“I pray there is a way to a better tomorrow because there is far too much violence in this world.”

In the United States, where there are more guns than people, gun violence is widespread.

Five individuals were hurt by a man’s bullet on a Kentucky roadway earlier this month. Wednesday saw the discovery of the gunman’s body following a 10-day manhunt.

Polls indicate that Americans want stricter gun laws yet attempts to restrict gun rights are always greeted with strong political opposition because of the strong gun rights lobby, constitutional safeguards, and the passionate culture around gun ownership.