Crime
District Judge Kevin Mullins killed in shooting, suspect Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines arrested
A fatal shooting occurred at the Letcher County Courthouse. One person was killed in the incident.
Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines has been arrested in connection with the shooting. He is accused of shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in his office.
The shooting prompted an active shooter situation, leading authorities to advise residents in the Whitesburg area to shelter in place and go under lockdown.
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
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA โ A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple Universityโs campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple Universityโs Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
โThe loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victimโs family and loved ones.โ
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victimโs last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individualโs involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.