Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024

[Inthedetails]

I couldn't understand half of what he said. The accent was new for me.

All you need to know is to say, "Yes, sir!" or face peeling potatoes on KP.

jmo

 

[mewmew]

I disagree. The plaintiff named the Sheriff in their civil lawsuit -- alleging the Sheriff did not "reasonably respond to reports or suspicions" about the subject deputy sheriff (Fields) who allegedly harmed the plaintiff. The deputy was never criminally charged in this matter.

To be clear, this is an incident dating back to 2022, where the Sheriff was also named as a defendant in the civil suit, and was reportedly to be deposed on Monday.

No telling if the civil suit and the shooting of Judge Mullins are related.

2/1/2022 -- Suit alleges Kentucky deputy forced woman to have sex in judge's chamber in lieu of fees

ETA: Fields was later indicted (Sept 2022) and accepted a guilty plea agreement in January 2024. Fields was working at the District Court (not the County Sheriff) when the incidents occurred.

Ex-deputy sheriff is sentenced; one victim tells of ‘nightmares’ - The Mountain Eagle

A former Letcher County deputy sheriff who pleaded guilty to raping a female prisoner who was on home incarceration will spend six months in the Letcher County Jail, where he formerly worked as a deputy jailer. Ben Fields, who was a court security officer for the sheriff ’s office and worked a...

www.themountaineagle.com

You disagree with what? Lol sorry I’m confused.

 

[m00c0w]

Snipped and bbm.

He shot the judge multiple times.

The sheriff knows how to shoot one shot to incapacitate someone. The sheriff knows that shooting multiple times is not "self defense."

jmopinion

While I’m not sure this was self defense, you rarely see only one shot fired in self-defense shootings. Especially with police that are taught to shoot until the threat is eliminated. Number of rounds fired here is meaningless as to self-defense or not.

JMO

 

[MassGuy]

While I’m not sure this was self defense, you rarely see only one shot fired in self-defense shootings. Especially with police that are taught to shoot until the threat is eliminated. Number of rounds fired here is meaningless as to self-defense or not.

JMO

That’s true, and going further, more rounds than necessary tend to be fired because of how the brain works in situations like that. You’ll see a crazy amount of rounds fired sometimes, and the officer has absolutely no idea they fired that many.

Here it’s clear it wasn’t self defense because of how this guy reacted after the fact. He walked out of the room and surrendered, which is something a guilty person does.

 

[Sonny Crockett]

This guy really screwed up here. Despite his being an authority figure, he killed an authority figure even higher up in the chain. I wonder what the Judge did to tick him off?! Well, at least we know this won't get swept under the rug - unlike a lot of other crimes that authority figures commit on innocent people.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1837150838675894750

 

[sds71]

SHERIFF, JUDGE ALLEGEDLY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER’S CELL PHONES BEFORE SHOOTING

According to multiple sources, video from inside Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins’ office shows he exchanged cell phones with Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines before Stines shot him.
There is no audio on the recording.

Stines had been in the office after asking to speak to Mullins privately. The two sat and talked before Stines stood up and locked the door and each took out his cell phone and handed it to the other.
According to those sources, Stines drew his weapon, walked around Mullins’s desk and shot him repeatedly as Mullins fell to the floor. Stines allegedly fired eight shots.

The two had eaten lunch together with employees of the court system earlier that day.
The shooting occurred about 2:43 p.m. Thursday. Police were dispatched at 2:58 p.m.
Stines left the office and surrendered to police. He was in custody within 15 minutes of the initial call. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

Meanwhile, the Letcher County Courthouse remains closed today, Friday, as the investigation continues. Grief counselors were made available to courthouse workers, attorneys, and other involved.

The Mountain Eagle

The Mountain Eagle. 17,553 likes · 126 talking about this. Newspaper for Letcher County, Ky., founded 1907.

www.facebook.com

 

[Chimera]

@Dotta : You beat me to it !
Thanks for posting the photo so I don't have to.

Kentucky sheriff who 'shot dead judge in courthouse' seen in mugshot

Lechter County Sheriff Mickey Stines, 43, is accused in the shooting death of District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, at the County Courthouse on Thursday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Lechter County Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines, 43, is accused in the shooting death of District Court Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, at the local courthouse in Whitesburg on Thursday.
Stines allegedly shot judge Mullins multiple times in his office following a short argument.
Mullins, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died at the scene, and Stines surrendered without incident. He is charged with first degree murder.
Police have not released a motive for the shooting.

The fatal shooting sent shock waves through a tight-knit Appalachian town and county seat of government with about 1,700 residents located about 145 miles (235 kilometers) southeast of Lexington.
Rbm.
Guess we'll have to wait ?

Am curious if there had been problems in this small town for years back, that culminated in this very public murder ?
Omo.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Police have not released a motive for the shooting.

<Snipped for focus>

The motive will 100% be deeply personal.
My guess is, the judge did something unforgivable in the shooter's mind, and eliminating him was the only proper justice.

jmo

 

[Dotta]

SHERIFF, JUDGE ALLEGEDLY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER’S CELL PHONES BEFORE SHOOTING

According to multiple sources, video from inside Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins’ office shows he exchanged cell phones with Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines before Stines shot him.
There is no audio on the recording.

Stines had been in the office after asking to speak to Mullins privately. The two sat and talked before Stines stood up and locked the door and each took out his cell phone and handed it to the other.
According to those sources, Stines drew his weapon, walked around Mullins’s desk and shot him repeatedly as Mullins fell to the floor. Stines allegedly fired eight shots.

The two had eaten lunch together with employees of the court system earlier that day.
The shooting occurred about 2:43 p.m. Thursday. Police were dispatched at 2:58 p.m.
Stines left the office and surrendered to police. He was in custody within 15 minutes of the initial call. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

Meanwhile, the Letcher County Courthouse remains closed today, Friday, as the investigation continues. Grief counselors were made available to courthouse workers, attorneys, and other involved.

The Mountain Eagle

The Mountain Eagle. 17,553 likes · 126 talking about this. Newspaper for Letcher County, Ky., founded 1907.

www.facebook.com

Hmmm...
Considering they earlier dined together,
then met and exchanged phones to look at some mysterious message/photo,
probably the same one sent to them by somebody,
the attack doesn't seem to me premeditated.

On the contrary,
it seems to have been impulsive.

JMO

 

[chimpface]

That state trooper reminds me of Forrest Gump

 

[Kudzuu]

This is where my grandfather served as county attorney (forever and ever ago). It's the place where I learned there is a lie in "beLIEve". I'll wait for some facts... which may or may not appear. ETA: Nothing would surprise me from this little town.

jmo

Ain't that the truth!

 

[Lyanna]

View attachment 532491

https://twitter.com/x/status/1837150838675894750

Can't imagine a Sheriff will fare well in the prison system, hence the "stony face" ?

Would guess at a very personal motive here, well, that's the only thing that half makes sense, why would he be willing to give up so much if not for a personal motive? And why stand by your actions and surrender if not a personal motive and feelings of justification for what he's done?

Condolences to all family members of these two people, a terrible and traumatic thing for them all to deal with x

Moo

 

[PrairieWind]

SHERIFF, JUDGE ALLEGEDLY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER’S CELL PHONES BEFORE SHOOTING

According to multiple sources, video from inside Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins’ office shows he exchanged cell phones with Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines before Stines shot him.
There is no audio on the recording.

Stines had been in the office after asking to speak to Mullins privately. The two sat and talked before Stines stood up and locked the door and each took out his cell phone and handed it to the other.
According to those sources, Stines drew his weapon, walked around Mullins’s desk and shot him repeatedly as Mullins fell to the floor. Stines allegedly fired eight shots.

The two had eaten lunch together with employees of the court system earlier that day.
The shooting occurred about 2:43 p.m. Thursday. Police were dispatched at 2:58 p.m.
Stines left the office and surrendered to police. He was in custody within 15 minutes of the initial call. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

Meanwhile, the Letcher County Courthouse remains closed today, Friday, as the investigation continues. Grief counselors were made available to courthouse workers, attorneys, and other involved.

The Mountain Eagle

The Mountain Eagle. 17,553 likes · 126 talking about this. Newspaper for Letcher County, Ky., founded 1907.

www.facebook.com

Holy cow!! There was certainly something going on. It may take a while to untangle this web unless the sheriff wants to just spill the beans.

 

[fred&edna]

I couldn't understand half of what he said. The accent was new for me.

Sounds like has a mouth full of marbles

I'd be happy to translate for "y'all", I'm fluent. (very rusty but still fluent)

 

[anneoakley63]

I listened to the Trooper (and understood him quite easily), and it seems there is a lot of info that hasn't been released to the public yet. There are a lot of rumors coming down the pike so it should be interesting to see what, if anything, is given to the public. There is a lot more to this story than we know. Taking the life of the Judge was absolutely the wrong thing to do, but in the heat of the moment the Sheriff may have thought it was his only option...especially when it comes to small town politics and who knows who. It's a sad and horrific ending all the way around.

 

[anneoakley63]

I'd be happy to translate for "y'all", I'm fluent. (very rusty but still fluent)

I'd be happy to help you translate as well. Being from the south, I'm VERY fluent!

 

[tlcya]

According to an electronically filed deposition notice, Stines was expected to provide a deposition Monday in relation to the suit from 2022 with the former deputy sheriff and the woman who alleged she was promised "favorable treatment for sexual favors."

Who is Mickey Stines? What to know about Letcher County sheriff accused in fatal shooting

Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines has been arrested in connection to a shooting at the Letcher County Courthouse on Thursday.

www.courier-journal.com

the timing of his upcoming deposition seems too coincidental to be coincidental IFKWIM. There has never been any allegation that the murdered judge was in any way involved in the 2022 sexual exploitation of a female by Stines' subordinate, outside of the offense happening in his chambers. Something made Stines want to kill the judge - what was it?

 

[whitelilac]

SHERIFF, JUDGE ALLEGEDLY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER’S CELL PHONES BEFORE SHOOTING

According to multiple sources, video from inside Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins’ office shows he exchanged cell phones with Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines before Stines shot him.
There is no audio on the recording.

Stines had been in the office after asking to speak to Mullins privately. The two sat and talked before Stines stood up and locked the door and each took out his cell phone and handed it to the other.
According to those sources, Stines drew his weapon, walked around Mullins’s desk and shot him repeatedly as Mullins fell to the floor. Stines allegedly fired eight shots.

The two had eaten lunch together with employees of the court system earlier that day.
The shooting occurred about 2:43 p.m. Thursday. Police were dispatched at 2:58 p.m.
Stines left the office and surrendered to police. He was in custody within 15 minutes of the initial call. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

Meanwhile, the Letcher County Courthouse remains closed today, Friday, as the investigation continues. Grief counselors were made available to courthouse workers, attorneys, and other involved.

The Mountain Eagle

The Mountain Eagle. 17,553 likes · 126 talking about this. Newspaper for Letcher County, Ky., founded 1907.

www.facebook.com

This is not clear to me here.
I was under the impression there were no cameras in the Judge's chambers.

 

[sds71]

According to an electronically filed deposition notice, Stines was expected to provide a deposition Monday in relation to the suit from 2022 with the former deputy sheriff and the woman who alleged she was promised "favorable treatment for sexual favors."

Who is Mickey Stines? What to know about Letcher County sheriff accused in fatal shooting

Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines has been arrested in connection to a shooting at the Letcher County Courthouse on Thursday.

www.courier-journal.com

the timing of his upcoming deposition seems too coincidental to be coincidental IFKWIM. There has never been any allegation that the murdered judge was in any way involved in the 2022 sexual exploitation of a female by Stines' subordinate, outside of the offense happening in his chambers. Something made Stines want to kill the judge - what was it?

The former Deputy filed a motion for mediation today

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR MEDIATION

Come the Plaintiffs, by counsel, and pursuant to local rule 16.2 moves that this matter be set for mediation. In support of this motion, the Plaintiffs state that the discovery is almost complete, there have been lengthy depositions, and the Plaintiffs believe that mediation at this point would be productive.

https://ecf.kyed.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_temp.pl?file=merged_26386_-1-1726847349.pdf&type=application/pdf