Police say Shawn Stines killed Kevin Mullins after argument in judge’s chambers as town struggles to understand motive

A small Kentucky town is still reeling after a longtime sheriff was accused of shooting and killing a judge at the county courthouse on 19 September in an act of shocking violence that has left many questions unanswered.

State police said that the sheriff, Shawn Stines, 43, killed the district judge Kevin Mullins, 54, after an argument in the judge’s chambers. Stines turned himself in, was arrested at the scene and now faces first-degree murder charges.