State Judge Shoots Himself in Courtroom

USA- A state judge in Georgia has died by suicide after shooting himself in his own courtroom.

Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, was found dead by a deputy on Tuesday, which was his last day in office after losing his re-election bid.

He was discovered inside the Effingham County State Courthouse around 10 a.m., but investigators believe he may have died late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are looking into his death.

Yekel had been appointed to the state court in 2022. He recently tried to resign, but Georgia Governor Brian Kemp denied his request.

Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie shared his condolences with Yekel’s family, saying, “This is never good for anybody. The family is heartbroken. This should be a happy time of year, and now they have to deal with this. I can’t imagine. If they need anything from us, we’re here to help.”

Yekel was also facing a lawsuit from a court employee named Lisa Crawford, who claimed he wrongfully fired her to bring in his own staff when he took office.

A married father of four, Yekel had previously worked as an assistant district attorney in Chatham County and as a special agent for Georgia’s Alcohol & Tobacco Tax Unit.

The Effingham County Board of Commissioners expressed deep sadness over Yekel’s death and offered support to his family and loved ones. The courtroom has been closed since the incident but is set to reopen on January 2.

-The Independent