Sheriff Shawn M. Stines allegedly shot and killed Mullins on Thursday in his Letcher County, Kentucky chambers. State police say measures were made to attempt to save Mullins’ life, but none were successful. No other injuries were reported, according to NewsNation local affiliate WJHL .
Watts, who knew both men personally, opened up to “ Banfield ” on Friday about losing not only two authority figures in a small town, but the loss of two men he admired.
“I have no information at all about what occurred or why it occurred. I know our county is devastated. We’ve lost two county officials, personal friends of mine,” he said. “For years, I’ve worked with both men closely throughout their careers.”
He told NewsNation that, while he hasn’t seen the video from inside the judge’s chambers reported on by the local paper , he can corroborate what happened from those who have.
Watts’ knowledge of the shooting
According to those who have watched the video, Stines walked in, asked whoever was in the chambers to leave, as he needed to speak with the judge in private. The doors then closed.
“From my understanding, the judge, Mullins, handed the sheriff his phone. The sheriff looked at both phones. He had two phones — one phone in each hand. He reviewed the phones, he laid the judge’s phone back down and then stood up,” Watts said.
From outside the chambers, people heard gunshots. Watts told NewsNation: “They didn’t realize if they were from the outside or someone who came in or or what, they evacuated the building. And then I was informed.”
District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, left, was allegedly killed by Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. “Mickey” Stines, 43, right, in his chambers Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (Letcher County government)
According to those who’ve seen the video, Stines picked up the judge’s phone again, looked at it, laid it back down and walked out. He then exited the courthouse from a side entrance and came back through the front.
“The first responders were responding. Of course, they probably thought he was there to assist them, until he walked back in the courthouse, back into the courtrooms, my understanding and laid his reviver or his pistol down on one of the tables at the very front of the courthouse,” Watts said.
Watts said Stines was not in uniform at the time of the shooting, but “he was on duty, 24 hours, seven days a week.”
“These are both honorable men. These both are honorable,” Watt emphasized. “They were elected by the good citizens of Letcher County. They both served admirably in their positions.”
“I don’t want to speculate. There’s two families that’s lost loved ones. Our county’s devastated by this loss. We’re (a) strong mountain community,” he added.
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