In Video: Sheriff points gun at Judge’s head moments before fatally shooting him in courthouse

Days after District Judge Kevin Mullins was shot and killed in his courthouse chambers, allegedly by his longtime friend, Letcher County Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines, newly released surveillance footage shows a heated exchange between the two inside Mullins’ office on September 19 before the incident happened.
The video captures the moment Stines, 43, pulled out a gun and pointed it at the judge’s head.Moments later, Stines allegedly opened fire, shooting Mullins multiple times. The 54-year-old judge, who had served in the district for years, died at the scene.
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Earlier that same day, the two men had shared lunch, giving no outward sign of the fatal confrontation to come. Sheriff Stines, now facing charges of murder, had been a close friend of Mullins for decades.
Testifying at the hearing, Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper revealed that just before the shooting, Stines attempted to call his daughter using both his phone and Judge Mullins’ phone. Stamper said the sheriff’s daughter’s number was stored on Mullins’ phone, raising questions about the nature of their relationship and what may have triggered the violent confrontation.
“I was told that Sheriff Stines had tried to call his daughter, and he had tried to call his daughter from the judge’s phone also,” Stamper said, according to The Associated Press. When asked whether the shooting may have been linked to something Stines discovered on the phone, Stamper responded: “It could be, but I don’t know that for a fact.”
According to the New York Post, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, though authorities are reportedly investigating a possible connection to a sex scandal, though no further details have been provided.
During the preliminary hearing on October 1, Judge Rupert Wilhoit III ruled that there was enough probable cause to believe that Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines committed the crime, allowing the case to move forward to a grand jury. The grand jury will decide whether to formally indict Stines on charges of murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins.
Following the hearing, Stines’ defense team expressed doubts about the evidence presented, stating that they left with “more questions than answers.” The defense also revealed that they are conducting a “parallel investigation” to gather additional information about the case.
If Stines is convicted of murder, he faces a potential sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Given that the victim was a public official, the sheriff could also face the death penalty.