Crime
Active Shooter Incident Reported at Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg
Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines arrested after allegedly shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in his office
Whitesburg, Kentucky – 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
Jessica Moore, 36, Killed in Seven-Vehicle Crash on I-81 in Pennsylvania; Truck Driver Faces Homicide Charge
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — Jessica Moore, 36, of Newville, Pennsylvania, died in a fiery seven-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in Cumberland County on Friday morning. Pennsylvania State Police said a truck driver is expected to face a homicide by motor vehicle charge in connection with the collision.
Investigators said the crash occurred on northbound I-81 near mile marker 47.1 in South Middleton Township. The collision involved a tractor-trailer and six other vehicles, leaving two vehicles on fire and several people injured.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, David Rodis Lynn III, of Round Rock, Texas, failed to stop for slowing traffic on northbound I-81. His tractor-trailer struck another vehicle, triggering a chain-reaction crash involving seven vehicles.
The impact caused the tractor-trailer and another vehicle to catch fire. Moore died at the scene, according to the information released about the crash. Her official cause of death remained pending an autopsy scheduled for Tuesday.
Authorities reported that occupants of other vehicles suffered injuries. Emergency responders transported the injured individuals to Holy Spirit Hospital and UPMC Carlisle for treatment. Officials did not provide further details about the number of people injured or the severity of their injuries.
The fatal collision occurred after an earlier incident on the same stretch of northbound I-81. At approximately 5 a.m., another tractor-trailer overturned, prompting road closures in the area.
The earlier crash disrupted traffic before the seven-vehicle collision occurred later that morning. Authorities have not provided further details about whether the initial incident directly contributed to the fatal crash.
Lynn is expected to face a charge of homicide by motor vehicle. However, he had not been arraigned on the anticipated charge at the time of the report.
The investigation into the deadly crash remains ongoing. Pennsylvania State Police are asking anyone with information about the collision to contact the agency’s Carlisle station.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances surrounding Moore’s death as investigators continue to examine