Kentucky trooper: Argument preceded judge’s courthouse shooting death

WHITESBURG, Ky. (WJHL) — Blue lights flashed in the background Thursday night as a Kentucky state trooper gave reporters details that state police had pieced together about a judge’s courthouse shooting death — allegedly by the county’s sheriff.

“We know that it was an argument between the two … but what exactly transpired prior to the shots being fired, that’s still something we’re trying to get answers to,” Kentucky State Trooper Matt Gayheart said.

County Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, suffered multiple gunshot wounds inside the Letcher County Courthouse on Thursday. Gayheart said law enforcement agencies and emergency services descended on the courthouse to find a fatally injured Mullins, who was pronounced dead by the county coroner.

The county’s sheriff, Shawn “Mickey” Stines, 43, cooperated with officials after they arrested him at the scene. He was charged with first-degree murder and taken to an undisclosed detention facility.

Gayheart was unable to say whether the suspect had used his service weapon or a personal weapon.

No motive has been officially determined, he said.

Stines was in his second term as sheriff of the rural county, having last won re-election in 2022. Mullins, a former commonwealth’s attorney, was appointed a district court judge in 2009 and had been elected to successive four-year terms beginning in 2010.

Schools were closed after the 2:55 p.m. emergency call, but Gayheart said authorities quickly determined the incident was isolated and no threat to the public existed. A school official said Friday morning that schools were back on a normal schedule for the day.

Gayheart said the courthouse’s video cameras are being checked for evidence, but said other people were there when the shooting occurred. He declined to say exactly where in the courthouse the argument and shooting took place.

‘This community is small … and we’re all shook’

Letcher County is isolated, mountainous and small, and Gayheart said Thursday’s shooting was of a magnitude the area hadn’t experienced before.

“I’ve not had a chance to speak to many people — it’s been a very hectic and busy day — but this community is small in nature and we’re all shook,” he said.

Gayheart said prayers for the family “that they get through this difficult time” would be appreciated. He also said he expected the community to come together in the wake of the shooting.

“We’re going to stick together, get through each day — that’s all,” he said.

Autopsy pending

Mullins’ body is being sent to the medical examiner’s office in Frankfort, Kentucky, for an autopsy, according to Gayheart.

As is standard protocol, all witnesses in the courthouse will be interviewed, with detectives from the Kentucky State Police leading the investigation, he said.

“There’ll be an autopsy conducted in the days coming, and just following up on all the leads and make sure we conduct a thorough investigation,” he said.

The courthouse was closed as of Friday morning. Calls to the sheriff’s department weren’t answered.