Kentucky State Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting of District Judge Kevin Mullins by Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, following an argument in the judge’s chambers. The shooting took place at the Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg, and Mullins, 54, was found dead from gunshot wounds around 3 p.m. on Thursday.
According to a preliminary investigation, Stines, 43, who was responsible for the personal security of judges, shot Mullins after the argument. Stines is facing first-degree murder charges and has since turned himself in without resistance. Authorities are still unclear about the motive behind the shooting, but the incident appears isolated, and no one else was injured. The courthouse had cameras, and all witnesses are being interviewed.
Stines had served as sheriff for eight years, and it’s uncertain who will take over his role following his arrest. Letcher County is a close-knit community, and the local police said that the entire area has been deeply affected by the tragedy. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear expressed his concerns about increasing violence in the state and shared his hopes for a better future.
This shooting comes shortly after another violent incident in southeast Kentucky, where five people were injured in a shooting on an interstate, and a Russell County deputy was killed in the line of duty three days earlier. The violence has left many in the community shaken.
The state police investigation is ongoing, and law enforcement has not yet revealed details about what led to the argument between Mullins and Stines. The first court appearance for Stines is set for September 25, with the hearing to take place remotely.
Mullins, a resident of Jackhorn, had been a district judge for Kentucky’s 47th District Court since 2009, having been appointed by former Gov. Steve Beshear. He was subsequently elected multiple times, most recently in 2022. Before becoming a judge, Mullins served as assistant commonwealth’s attorney in Letcher County, with a focus on drug-related cases. He was known for his commitment to substance abuse treatment and worked on several initiatives to help people struggling with addiction, including creating peer support services in the courthouse.
Sheriff Stines had also been involved in addressing drug issues in the county and had recently highlighted successful drug busts in the area. In early September, Stines had posted a thank-you message to the citizens of Letcher County for their help in combating drug crime.
However, the sheriff was recently deposed in a federal lawsuit involving a former deputy, Ben Fields, who was accused of coercing a woman into having sex with him in Judge Mullins’ chambers in 2021. The lawsuit, filed by Sabrina Adkins and Jennifer Hill, alleged that Fields offered to keep Adkins out of jail in exchange for sex. The lawsuit also accused Fields of making inappropriate advances and requesting sexual favors from both plaintiffs. Fields was later fired by Stines after these allegations came to light and was charged with multiple felonies.
Stines had been deposed in connection to the lawsuit just days before the shooting. Defense attorneys representing Stines in the lawsuit maintained that he had acted in good faith in carrying out his duties and argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed due to the statute of limitations.
Following the shooting, the legal community in Kentucky expressed shock and grief. Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter of the Kentucky Supreme Court described the court’s reaction as one of deep sadness, and local officials, including Letcher County Commonwealth’s Attorney Matt Butler, shared personal reflections on their relationships with both Mullins and Stines. Butler, who is related to Mullins through marriage, recused himself from the prosecution of the case due to the family connection.
The courthouse in Letcher County has been closed temporarily, and a retired judge is expected to take over Mullins’ duties until a permanent replacement is appointed. Local schools and a nearby college were briefly locked down as a precaution following the shooting.
