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.
ROCKFORD, Ill. โ Daniel Gracia, 12, died after a truck struck his bicycle in Rockford on Tuesday evening, October 20, 2026. Police have charged the truck driver, 61-year-old Brian Knittel, in connection with the fatal crash.
Rockford police responded to the 900 block of 11th Street at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Officers arrived after receiving reports of a collision involving a truck and a young bicyclist.
Gracia suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Authorities have not provided further details about how the collision occurred.
Knittel, a Rockford resident, faces several charges related to the incident. These include reckless homicide, aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, and additional traffic offenses.
Following his arrest, authorities took Knittel to the Winnebago County Jail.
During Knittelโs initial court appearance, a judge granted the stateโs request to deny him pretrial release. He is scheduled to return to court on December 17, 2026.
The case remains pending as the legal process continues. The charges represent allegations, and Knittel is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.