KSP trooper: Argument preceded judge’s courthouse shooting death

WHITESBURG, Ky. (WJHL) — Blue lights flashed in the background Thursday night as Kentucky State Trooper Matt Gayheart gave reporters details 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,” Gayheart said.

That mid-afternoon argument left county judge Kevin Mullins, 54, dead of multiple gunshot wounds inside the Letcher County Courthouse. Gayheart said multiple 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 after the shooting.

No motive has been officially determined, Gayheart said. Kentucky State Police (KSP) are leading the investigation. Stines, who is charged with first-degree murder, was taken to an undisclosed detention facility and Gayheart said his initial court appearance was likely to be scheduled at a later date.

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 on a normal schedule for the day.

He said the courthouse has video cameras that will be checked for evidence, and that 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 said he expected the community to respond with unity and stoicism.

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

Court, autopsy pending

Gayheart said Mullins’ body would be sent to the medical examiner’s office in Frankfort for an autopsy.

He said all witnesses that were in the courthouse would be interviewed as standard protocol throughout KSP’s investigation. Detectives from KSP’s Post 13 in Hazard are leading that 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.”

Gayheart said he couldn’t answer a question about whether Stines used a personal weapon or a service weapon.

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

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