A Kentucky sheriff has turned himself in for allegedly shooting a judge dead inside his chambers on Thursday after asking staff if he could speak with him.

Lechter County Sheriff Mickey Stines, 43, surrendered himself to police following the shooting death of District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, at the County Courthouse at around 3pm, The Mountain Eagle reports.  

The sheriff allegedly walked into the judge's outer office, told court employees and others gathered there he needed to speak to Mullins alone.

He and Mullins then entered the judge's inner office, closed the door and those outside heard gunshots, according to The Mountain Eagle. 

Stines then walked out with his hands raised and surrendered to officers, who placed him in handcuffs. He was charged with one count of first-degree murder.

In the aftermath, Letcher County Central High School was placed on lockdown at the request of state police because of 'an active shooting downtown,' the school said in a statement.

'Your children are safe. The shooter has been apprehended,' the statement said, adding that the students were later released.

The coroner later confirmed that one person was killed in a shooting at the courthouse, but did not identify the victim, according to WKYT.

However, Gov. Andy Beshear later posted on X that he has been informed that a district judge was killed in his chambers.

'There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow,' he wrote. 

Mullins was appointed to serve as a judge in the state's 47th district under former Gov. Steve Beshear in 2009.

He oversaw juvenile matters, city and county ordinances, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, arraignments, felony probable cause hearings, claims involving $2,500 or less, civil cases involving $5,000 or less, voluntary and involuntary mental commitments and domestic violence cases, according to a Letcher County website.