In a shocking turn of events that has drawn national attention, 43-year-old Sheriff Mickey Stines of Letcher County, Kentucky, faced a fatal shooting incident last month. During a recent hearing, surveillance footage was presented, showing Sheriff Stines fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, inside a courthouse. The video reveals a heated exchange between the two men in an office, during which Mullins raised his hands and attempted to shield himself. Despite his attempts, Stines discharged eight shots.
According to reports from the New York Post, Stines and Mullins had a long-standing friendship, spanning several decades. On the day of the incident, which occurred on September 19, they had even shared a lunch together. However, the situation took a drastic turn when Stines entered Mullins’s office for what was reportedly intended to be a private discussion, just moments before the gunfire erupted.
The surveillance footage from the hearing depicts Mullins seated at his desk, raising his hands in an apparent effort to de-escalate the situation. As he attempted to take cover beneath the desk, Stines kept firing multiple shots, adjusting his position to aim more effectively.
Following the shooting, Stines exited the office with his hands raised, surrendering to law enforcement and alleging that there had been an attempt to abduct his family. He was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder, to which he has pleaded not guilty. While he remains in custody, Stines has indicated his intention to resign from his role as sheriff.
Detective Clayton Stamper of the Kentucky State Police testified that prior to the incident, Stines and Mullins had been enjoying lunch in a group without any visible signs of tension. It was noted that Mullins had asked Stines if he needed to speak privately. Additionally, police found a phone number belonging to Stines’s daughter on Mullins’s phone, indicating that Stines had made multiple calls to her from both of their phones before the tragedy unfolded.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Authorities are currently interviewing additional witnesses and scrutinizing the mobile devices of both men.
While Stines’s defense attorney has declined to comment on any possible motives for the shooting, there are reports suggesting that investigators may be exploring potential links to a sexual scandal, though specific details on this front remain unconfirmed.
