In a shocking incident that has rocked a small Kentucky town, District Judge Kevin Mullins was fatally shot inside his chambers on Thursday, September 19, 2024. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines was charged with first-degree murder following an alleged argument with the judge. Mullins, 54, was found with multiple gunshot wounds around 3 p.m. at the Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky.
Stines, 43, turned himself in immediately after the shooting and was arrested at the scene without incident. According to Kentucky State Police, the sheriff is cooperating with authorities, though the exact motive behind the argument and subsequent shooting remains under investigation.
🚨 #BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: High-ranking government sources tell me the Sheriff who sh*t and k*lled a Kentucky judge today did so because the judge was r*ping the Sheriff’s underage daughter
Local media reports the elected Sheriff of Letcher County, KY walked into the judge’s… pic.twitter.com/PKxA1yj27N
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 20, 2024
State Trooper Matt Gayheart confirmed that while other courthouse employees were in the building, no one else was inside the judge’s chambers, and no additional injuries were reported.
The case has left the tight-knit community of Letcher County in shock. Governor Andy Beshear addressed the violence in a social media post, urging for a path to peace amid rising violence in the state. Just days before the courthouse shooting, a deputy sheriff in a neighboring county had been killed in the line of duty, further heightening concerns about law enforcement safety in the region.
A Kentucky sheriff Mickey Stines fatally shot Judge Kevin Mullins inside the Judge’s chamber. Stines walked out with his hands raised and surrendered to officers, who placed him in handcuffs. He was charged with one count of first-degree murder.
High-ranking government sources… pic.twitter.com/boGAl2SDtj
— ꪻꫝể ꪻꫝể (@TheThe1776) September 21, 2024
Judge Mullins was a well-known figure in Kentucky’s judicial system, serving as district judge for the 47th District Court since 2009. He had been re-elected several times, most recently in 2022, and was deeply involved in combating drug-related crimes and promoting addiction recovery programs. His work with substance abuse treatment centers has been credited with helping hundreds of individuals in eastern Kentucky overcome opioid addiction, making his sudden death all the more heartbreaking for the community.
Sheriff Stines had also served Letcher County since 2018, with a focus on law enforcement initiatives, including drug busts. However, the alleged argument between the two men quickly escalated into a fatal shooting, leaving residents and authorities scrambling for answers.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement has gathered security footage and plans to interview witnesses to piece together what happened in the moments leading up to the shooting. Stines remains in custody in a neighboring county, with his court arraignment still pending as officials work to find a judge to handle the case, given the close working relationships involved.
This incident marks another violent blow to the region, which has experienced increased tension and tragedy in recent weeks. The legal community, already reeling from previous losses, is now left to mourn one of its most dedicated public servants.
