Shocking video of a Kentucky judge being murdered in his chambers was played during a court hearing for a former sheriff charged with murder.
This short video clip was presented by prosecutors during a preliminary hearing against Letcher County Sheriff Sean “Mickey” Stines, who allegedly fired the gun at 54-year-old District Judge Kevin Mullins on Sept. 19. It depicts a shocking moment.
The video, which has no audio, shows a man, identified by police as Steines, pull out a gun and shoot the judge as he sits at his desk. The man walked around the desk, pointed the gun at the judge who was on the floor, and fired again.
The emotions of those in the courtroom were palpable, and some could be heard moaning and crying.
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Former Sheriff Sean “Mickey” Stines of Letcher County, Kentucky, looks over at prosecutors during his arraignment at the Morgan County Courthouse on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 in West Liberty, Kentucky. Stines is charged with murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley))
Mullins died from multiple gunshot wounds, Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper testified Tuesday.
Stines entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder at his arraignment last week and is being held in another Kentucky county.
District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was killed in the judge's chambers by Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, authorities announced Thursday. (Kentucky State Court, Letcher County Sheriff's Office)
Stamper said Stines and Mullins had a friendly group lunch before the shooting and that no witnesses appeared angry during the conversation.
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“I heard that the judge said something to the effect of, 'Do we need to meet in private in a private room?'” Stamper said, adding that he didn't know what that meant. Ta.
Letcher County Sheriff Sean M. Stein is seen in this Friday, September 20, 2024, booking photo provided by the Leslie County Detention Center in Kentucky. (Leslie County Detention Center, via AP)
Stamper said he had no direct knowledge of the couple's previous relationship, but “had heard” about the lawsuit involving the sheriff's office.
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Stines is being ousted by a lawsuit filed by two women, one of whom claims the deputy forced her to have sex in Mullins' room for six months in exchange for not going to jail.
The lawsuit accuses the former sheriff of “deliberate indifference and failure to properly train and supervise his officers.”
Former Letcher County, Kentucky, Sheriff Sean “Mickey” Stines wipes his eyes as he listens to testimony during his arraignment at the Morgan County Courthouse on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 in West Liberty, Kentucky. Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
Several people were in the room next to Mullins' room when the shots rang out. Stamper said Stines was in custody by the time he arrived at the courthouse.
Stearns was “mostly calm” by the time he arrived at the scene of the shooting, Stamper said. “Basically, all he said was, 'Please treat me fairly,'” Stamper said.
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At the end of the hearing, Judge Rupert Wilhoite III determined that there was probable cause to believe that Stines committed a crime and allowed the case to go to a grand jury, which will decide whether to indict Stines. did.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Stines could face the death penalty.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
