Ky. Judge Shot in Chambers After Argument with Sheriff

Whitesburg, KY (WorkersCompensation.com) – Investigators are still working on why a Kentucky sheriff shot and killed a judge in his courthouse chambers, one of several people shot on the job in the past few weeks.

According to Kentucky State Police, Shawn Stines shot and killed District Judge Kevin Mullins several times on Sept. 19 after the two argued in Mullins’ chambers. Mullins died at the scene. The shooting rocked rural Whitesburg, Ky., a small town of just over 1,700 people.

“This community is small in nature, and we’re all shook,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart said at a Thursday evening news conference.

Mullins, 54, had held the judgeship for 15 years. Officials said Stines, 43, surrendered after the shooting, and was taken into custody without incident. Because of his role, Stines was previously responsible for Mullins safety in the courthouse. He is now facing a first-degree murder charge, state police said.

"We know that it was an argument between the two that led up, but what exactly transpired prior to the shots being fired, that's still things that we're trying to get answers to," Gayheart said.

In San Antonio, an illegal dumping case left an employee of a car lot dead and at least one man facing charges.

Sheriff Javier Salazar said employees of a car lot off of U.S. Highway 181 saw some illegal dumping near the lot, they confronted the suspects who then drew weapons on the employees. The employees also drew weapons on the suspects and pursued them as they fled.

George Gomez, 36, was one of the employees who chased the suspects. Officials said that during the pursuit, Gomez fired shots at the truck. However, officials said they weren’t clear on whether or not the suspects fired back.

“Gomez was firing through his own windshield while pursuing them, and the evidence that we found on Gomez’s car is consistent with that now whether or not they shot back at Gomez is a distinct possibility,” Salazar said.

When police found Gomez, Salazar was in his vehicle and the vehicle was under trees. Deputies determined Gomez had at some point suffered from an apparent heart attack.

Police said John Yeates, 39, was the suspect involved in the chase, and was the one Gomez was chasing when the shooting and death occurred. According to the police, Yeates and the truck driver he was with could face illegal dumping charges, officials said.

In Springdale, Ohio, an employee was killed in a shooting at the hotel he worked at.

Police said Umedjon R. Mavlonkulov, 27, was working at a La Quinta Inn in Springdale, Ohio when he was shot by a man who fled the area. Police said Mavlonkulov died at the scene.

Police later said detectives were able to obtain critical information that led them to DeSean McKinley Buckner, 28, was in Columbus, Ohio. Police arrested Buckner and charged him with Mavlonkulov’s death. Police have not released information about the incident.

In Prince George’s County, Md., police are searching for two men who killed a tire shop employee after an argument got out of control.

Officials said two men began arguing with an employee of a 24/7 tire shop in Capitol City, Md. on Monday. When the argument escalated, the two men pulled guns and shot the employee. Police said they are watching the security camera video that captured the moments before and during the shooting.

Video showed that the male employee and a male customer began arguing when another man, who was with the customer, went to their vehicle. When the man returned, the argument grew more heated and two shots were fired. The customer then returned to the vehicle and drove away, camera footage showed. When the car drove away, the employee ran to neighboring businesses for help.

Officials said the employee later died, and that police are looking for information about the suspects.

And in San Jose, Cal., a bus operator is dead after being shot in the parking lot of the VTA’s Chaboya Division bus yard, officials said. Officials said no arrests had been made as of Saturday morning, but that the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office would be increasing deputies’ presence near the bus yard.

"I had the pleasure of working with him for the last 7 or 8 years since he was at this division, and we lost a good person. He's a very good individual. I can't recall a negative interaction with him. There [were] times that we played some pool during our split shifts. We're sad for his passing and our prayers are with his family," Raj Singh, president of ATU Local 265, the union representing bus operators in the area, said. Fellow VTA employees were stunned by the employee’s death. VTA officials said they would not be identifying the victim.

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