Crime
Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines arrested after allegedly shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in his office
UPDATE: One person has been fatally shot in an incident at the Letcher County Courthouse.
Sheriff Mickey Stines has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of a judge at the Letcher County Courthouse.
Whitesburg, Kentucky – Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines has been arrested in connection with a shooting incident at the Letcher County Courthouse.
Stines is accused of shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in his office, located off the Letcher District Courtroom. The shooting occurred on, prompting an active shooter situation.
Residents in the Whitesburg area were advised to shelter in place and go under lockdown immediately. Individuals in the downtown area were urged to lock their doors and remain safe. Both the Mountain Eagle and Appalshop confirmed reports of the shooting.
Nearby Letcher County Schools were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure. While students were assured that they were not in danger, the lockdown remained in place until authorities deemed it safe to release them.
One person has been arrested in connection with the shooting. However, police have not yet authorized the release of students from the schools.
Initial reports indicated that the shooting took place in the District Courtroom. Court employees were visibly shaken and gathered on the sidewalk outside the courthouse.
Law enforcement officers responded to the incident promptly. A reporter is en route to Whitesburg to gather more information and provide updates as they become available.
Crime
24-Year-Old Jose Alfredo Soto Navarrete Jr Dies in Fatal Jeep Incident in Midland, Christian Rojelio Zubia Arrested
MIDLAND, Texas — Jose Alfredo Soto Navarrete Jr., a 24-year-old man from Odessa, died after an incident involving a Jeep Wrangler in Midland on Thursday night, October 8, 2026. The driver, a 30-year-old Odessa man, was later arrested and charged with manslaughter, according to the Midland Police Department.
Police said officers responded at approximately 10:46 p.m. Thursday to a reported crash involving a 2018 Jeep Wrangler and a pedestrian in the 1700 block of Rankin Highway.
During the preliminary investigation, witnesses told authorities that Soto Navarrete had jumped onto the hood of a black Jeep Wrangler. Investigators allege that the driver accelerated while turning southbound, causing Soto Navarrete to fall from the vehicle and sustain fatal injuries.
Authorities identified the driver as Christian Rojelio Zubia, 30, of Odessa.
According to police, Zubia left the scene after the incident. Officers later located him with assistance from the Odessa Police Department.
Zubia was arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with Soto Navarrete’s death. The charge is an allegation, and the case will proceed through the legal system.
The Midland Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident, including the events leading up to Soto Navarrete’s fall from the Jeep.
Authorities have not released further details about what prompted the encounter or whether additional charges may be considered.
Police confirmed that Soto Navarrete’s next of kin has been notified of his death.
Soto Navarrete’s death has left his family and loved ones grieving. His passing serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly a dangerous incident can result in a fatal outcome.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information may be released as authorities continue reviewing the case.