Sadly, I have been informed that a district judge in Letcher County was shot and killed in his chambers this afternoon.
There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow. ^AB
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) September 19, 2024
A small town in southeast Kentucky is mourning the loss of District Judge Kevin Mullins after he was shot and killed inside his chambers at the Letcher County courthouse on Thursday. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, who was responsible for the personal security of judges, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.
Letcher County, Kentucky's sheriff fatally shot a judge in courthouse chambers today, apparently after they argued. An intentional killing is murder in Kentucky, which is a capital punishment state, although there have been no executions since 2008. https://t.co/pDISvMfTEP
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) September 20, 2024
The events leading up to the fatal incident remain unclear, leaving the community of Whitesburg, with a population of fewer than 2,000 people, searching for answers about what could have triggered such a tragedy involving two prominent figures in the local criminal justice system. On the day of the shooting, Mullins and Stines were seen having lunch together, according to Circuit Clerk Mike Watts. “A few hours later, there was an argument between the two men inside the judge’s chambers,” Watts said.
Wild (!!):
A judge and a sheriff were seen getting ready to go to lunch together, just hours before the sheriff shot and killed the judge in his chambers in Whitesburg. https://t.co/ctANlianUS
— Sarah Bahr (@smbahr14) September 21, 2024
A 911 call reported shots fired on the second floor of the courthouse just before 3 p.m., after which Mullins was found with multiple gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene. Stines, who had served as sheriff for eight years, is being held in Leslie County, with his first court appearance scheduled for September 25 before a judge in Carter County. It is currently unknown whether Stines has an attorney representing him.
The incident has deeply shaken the close-knit community of Whitesburg. “The whole county is just devastated by this,” Watts said.
A rural eastern Kentucky county sheriff walked into a courthouse on Thursday afternoon and shot and killed a district judge in his chambers https://t.co/J3rfyuVP6F
— JamesVGrimaldi (@JamesVGrimaldi) September 20, 2024
“We’ve not only lost our sheriff and district judge, but I’ve lost two personal friends that I worked with daily.”
In Kentucky, sheriffs are responsible for courthouse security, including the personal safety of judges.
“We have 120 sheriffs that work on a daily basis with our judges,” said Jerry Wagner, a retired sheriff and executive director of the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association. “No one saw this coming.”
A funeral for Mullins is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Jenkins, Kentucky.
Judge killed inside courthouse chambers
Flags at all facilities will be lowered to half-staff through Monday in his honor. Mullins is survived by his wife and two daughters. Mullins was known for his efforts to address the opioid epidemic by providing access to treatment for those affected by substance use disorders and mental illness.
He also served on the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health, working to improve the court’s approach to behavioral health. The personal connections within the community have made the loss even more profound. Matt Butler, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Letcher County, recused himself from the sheriff’s prosecution due to his close ties with both Mullins and Stines.
The judge and sheriff married two sisters, making their children more like siblings than cousins. Butler described the community’s shock and grief, recalling both Mullins and Stines as men he had worked with for years. “Our community has suffered an act of violence that appears to be between two men that I have worked with for seventeen years and loved like brothers,” he said in a social media post.
Kentucky State Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting, reviewing security footage from inside the courthouse and interviewing witnesses. “Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office will work with Commonwealth’s Attorney Steele as special prosecutors on the case,” Coleman said in a statement. “We will fully investigate and pursue justice.”
The courthouse will remain closed until operations can resume, with a retired judge temporarily handling district court cases until a Judicial Nominating Commission selects Mullins’ replacement.
Stines was also involved in an ongoing federal lawsuit related to a former deputy under his command, adding another layer of complexity to this tragic event. Jonathan Shaw, the attorney representing Stines in the federal suit, said he did not have the authority to comment on Stines’ personal behalf in connection with the murder case. As the community grapples with the loss of two prominent figures, many questions remain unanswered about the argument that led to the fatal shooting and the circumstances surrounding Sheriff Stines’ alleged involvement in the death of Judge Mullins.
