FRANKFORT, Ky. — On Thursday, a grand jury in Letcher County handed down an indictment against a former sheriff in connection with the murder of a judge, an event that has left a small Appalachian town in shock.
Shawn “Mickey” Stines has been charged with one count of murdering a public official following the fatal shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins in his courthouse chambers on September 19. At the time of the incident, Stines was serving as the sheriff of Letcher County, located in the southeastern part of Kentucky. According to reports, Stines entered Mullins’ chambers, spoke with him briefly, then opened fire.
Judge Mullins, aged 54 and a respected figure with 15 years on the bench, died at the scene. Stines surrendered to law enforcement shortly after the shooting. He has since entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge and is currently being held in a jail in a different Kentucky county.
Stines, 43, resigned as sheriff about a week following the shooting, and his successor, Billy Jones, was inaugurated on October 1. Previously, Jones served as a resource officer at a local high school in Letcher County.
Following the indictment, prosecutors opted not to comment. Meanwhile, Stines’ legal representatives did not respond promptly to requests for a statement via email and phone.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, which has stunned the local community. The city of Whitesburg, where the incident occurred, is situated approximately 146 miles (235 kilometers) southeast of Lexington, Kentucky.
At a recent court hearing, surveillance video capturing the shooting was presented. The footage, devoid of sound, shows a man identified as Stines pulling out a firearm and firing at the judge while he was seated at his desk. The video further depicts Stines circling the desk and shooting again at the already fallen Mullins. The emotional weight of the video led to sobs from spectators within the courtroom.
According to a Kentucky State Police detective who testified, Mullins succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. The detective also revealed that Stines attempted to contact his daughter using Mullins’ phone as well as his own just prior to the shooting. No firearms were located on Mullins or within his chambers, the detective confirmed.
Prior to the tragic incident, the two men had shared lunch with others at a nearby restaurant. Stines’ defense team expressed that they emerged from the hearing with more uncertainties than clarity and indicated they were pursuing their own independent investigation.
The murder charge against Stines carries the potential for a death penalty sentence.