Shocking details emerge about sheriff charged in judge’s shooting death

New details are emerging about a Kentucky sheriff charged with murder after allegedly shooting a judge inside the courthouse Thursday.

Kentucky State Police received a report of shots fired inside the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg around 2:55 p.m., Trooper Matt Gayheart posted on Facebook. Authorities found District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, with multiple gunshot wounds. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful and Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene.

State police said their preliminary investigation revealed that Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, fatally shot Mullins during an argument inside the courthouse. Stines was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder.

Stines was first elected sheriff in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Prior to that, he served as a bailiff in Letcher County District Court.

He was named along with Rep. Ben Fields as defendants in a 2022 lawsuit. Sabrina Adkins alleged that Fields forced her to perform unwanted sexual acts in Mullins’ bedroom, according to the Mail-JournalStines was also included in the lawsuit because Adkins alleged he failed to train Fields properly.

The lawsuit does not indicate that Mullins was aware of the alleged incident.

Fields was fired shortly after the complaint was filed.

Mullins was a judge in the 47th Judicial District. He was first appointed in 2009 by former Gov. Steve Beshear. He was elected to the position the following year.

Mullins previously worked as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney.

The courthouse announced that it would be closed Friday on its website.

“Due to the events that occurred at the Letcher County Courthouse on September 19, 2024, the Circuit and District Courts and the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office are closed until court operations can resume,” the notice reads. “Letcher County is not accepting any court filings — conventional or electronic — at this time, pursuant to Supreme Court Administrative Order 2024-32. Please check the Kentucky Court of Justice website for updates.”

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear commented on the incident on X.

“Sadly, I have been informed that a Letcher County District Judge was shot and killed in his office this afternoon. There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray that there is a path to a better future,” Beshear said.

Kentucky State Police continue to investigate the incident.

Whitesburg has a population of just over 1,700. The town is located in eastern Kentucky, near the Virginia border.

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