US sheriff arrested after judge shot dead in courthouse

A sheriff in rural Kentucky has been arrested, accused of shooting and killing a district court judge following an argument inside the courthouse.

Kentucky State Police said Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines, 43, was taken into custody without incident at the county's courthouse, where 54-year-old District Judge Kevin Mullins, was shot and killed.

Police offered no motive for the shooting.

Mr Stines has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.

"There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow," Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on X.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman wrote on social media that his office would be working with special prosecutors on the case, writing "we will fully investigate and pursue justice."

The Kentucky Court of Justice wrote on its social media that the court "is aware of a tragic incident that occurred today in Letcher County" and that it offered its full support to state police in their investigation.

The shooting took place in Whitesburg, the Letcher County situated about 350km southeast of Louisville and near the Virginia border.