Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 3

[sds71]

Kentucky State Police and Letcher County Coroner Perry Fowler were still at the Letcher County Courthouse at 5 p.m. today investigating the shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin D. Mullins, apparently by the Letcher County Sheriff.

Officials say Sheriff Mickey Stines was arrested after surrendering himself to police. The shooting occurred in the judge’s chambers about 3 p.m. this afternoon (September 19).

Police had Main Street in Whitesburg cordoned off and were shooing citizens off the streets around it.

Stines allegedly walked into the judge’s outer office, told court employees and others gathered there that he needed to speak with Mullins alone. The two then went into the inner office, closed the door and those outside heard shots. Stines walked out with his hands up and surrendered to police.

Court employees were on the sidewalk outside the courthouse in shock following the shooting. Stines was handcuffed in the foyer of the courthouse. Officials expected the investigation to continue for several more hours.

We will have more information as it comes available.

Sheriff arrested in shooting death of District Judge - The Mountain Eagle

Kentucky State Police and Letcher County Coroner Perry Fowler were still at the Letcher County Courthouse at 5 p.m. today investigating the shooting death of Letcher District Judge Kevin D. Mullins, apparently by the Letcher County Sheriff. Officials say Sheriff Mickey Stines was arrested after...

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1836880370676928513

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Thread #1
Thread #2

 

[Knitty]

Please continue here.

 

[Deleted member 296739]

Carrying over from last thread -OP said..
“That is an absolutely brutal, cold-blooded murder by someone who was chosen to uphold the law. If anyone deserves the death penalty, Stines does in my opinion. How people can support him is beyond me.”

I’m not sure that trying to explain and understand another person’s perspective equates to supporting them- an explanation is not a justification or a defense- moo

 

[Deleted member 229974]

Post in thread 'Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 2'
Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 2

Why didn’t he just plead guilty?

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Post in thread 'Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 2'
Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 2

Why didn’t he just plead guilty?

He can still plead guilty at a later time. JMO.

 

[Deleted member 296739]

Regardless of his profession and sworn duty, Could one ever personally imagine a set of circumstances where someone might do what the sheriff did? I don’t think that question means I’d support him, just trying to understand the context- I’m not necessarily saying in this case, but any case where someone was pushed over their limit, extreme circumstances, emotional distress, mental illness, psychosis… something? Anything? And in the heat of passion, or current circumstances felt that their only choice was to do what the sheriff did?

I’m not saying that there are those extreme mitigating circumstances in this particular case, but could one conceive of them being a possibility in any case? Under any circumstances? If not, fair, if possible, why would this particular case with limited evidence available, be outside the scope or reach of possibility?

I don’t know what happened in this case, I wasn’t there and I don’t live in that community- however I can conceive of scenarios where a person might make the choices that the sheriff made- doesn’t make them right or “justifiable” but perhaps understandable-

While I understand that WS is victim friendly as it should be- there is the presumption of innocence, which in this case is kind of mute in my opinion - there’s video- the sheriff shot the judge- and there is the possibility (while we don’t know the facts) that there is a narrative that explains why- in the sheriff’s mind- this was a viable/necessary course of action-

If the presumption is that there is no explanation and no possibility of mitigating circumstances or that the only possibility is murder 1 premeditation and death penalty- then I’m not sure that is a road I’d walk down- not justifying the sheriff’s actions- I’m willing to leave the door open to the fact that I don’t know what happened or was going on in the county and all I do know is that shockingly one man unexpectedly took another’s life-

I’m not sure I understand the relationship between trying to understand the context and what might have precipitated the death of the judge and that equating to supporting the sheriff-moo

 

[Ontario Mom]

Regardless of his profession and sworn duty, Could one ever personally imagine a set of circumstances where someone might do what the sheriff did? I don’t think that question means I’d support him, just trying to understand the context- I’m not necessarily saying in this case, but any case where someone was pushed over their limit, extreme circumstances, emotional distress, mental illness, psychosis… something? Anything? And in the heat of passion, or current circumstances felt that their only choice was to do what the sheriff did?

I’m not saying that there are those extreme mitigating circumstances in this particular case, but could one conceive of them being a possibility in any case? Under any circumstances? If not, fair, if possible, why would this particular case with limited evidence available, be outside the scope or reach of possibility?

As a mother of 7, yes. Absolutely yes.

 

[Deleted member 296739]

As a mother of 7, yes. Absolutely yes.

Me too- moo

 

[Florida_marlin]

Regardless of his profession and sworn duty, Could one ever personally imagine a set of circumstances where someone might do what the sheriff did? I don’t think that question means I’d support him, just trying to understand the context- I’m not necessarily saying in this case, but any case where someone was pushed over their limit, extreme circumstances, emotional distress, mental illness, psychosis… something? Anything? And in the heat of passion, or current circumstances felt that their only choice was to do what the sheriff did?

I’m not saying that there are those extreme mitigating circumstances in this particular case, but could one conceive of them being a possibility in any case? Under any circumstances? If not, fair, if possible, why would this particular case with limited evidence available, be outside the scope or reach of possibility?

I don’t know what happened in this case, I wasn’t there and I don’t live in that community- however I can conceive of scenarios where a person might make the choices that the sheriff made- doesn’t make them right or “justifiable” but perhaps understandable-

While I understand that WS is victim friendly as it should be- there is the presumption of innocence, which in this case is kind of mute in my opinion - there’s video- the sheriff shot the judge- and there is the possibility (while we don’t know the facts) that there is a narrative that explains why- in the sheriff’s mind- this was a viable/necessary course of action-

If the presumption is that there is no explanation and no possibility of mitigating circumstances or that the only possibility is murder 1 premeditation and death penalty- then I’m not sure that is a road I’d walk down- not justifying the sheriff’s actions- I’m willing to leave the door open to the fact that I don’t know what happened or was going on in the county and all I do know is that shockingly one man unexpectedly took another’s life-

I’m not sure I understand the relationship between trying to understand the context and what might have precipitated the death of the judge and that equating to supporting the sheriff-moo

Discussing all aspects of a case, including possible motives, is what we do. If discussing, speculating about, or trying to elucidate motive is equal to support of a perp and off limits, we might as well shut the site down and go do something else.

 

[Deleted member 296739]

Discussing all aspects of a case, including possible motives, is what we do. If discussing, speculating about, or trying to elucidate motive is equal to support of a perp and off limits, we might as well shut the site down and go do something else.

Agreed- I was reacting to posts in the previous thread where OP were implying that people “were supporting” the sheriff and this was beyond comprehension- moo

 

[Rosiebones]

For me, explaining and excusing are not one and the same. There is no excuse for the murder he is on tape committing. However, I am struggling to explain the why. The why, if we ever learn what it was, may influence the punishment.
The rapid, large weight loss ( and he is still pretty massive in the video), the reported quieter than usual behaviors have an explanation We just don't know what it is yet.
No explanation can excuse or condone this it just helps us understand it.. MOO MOO MOO MOO

 

[ilovewings]

Discussing all aspects of a case, including possible motives, is what we do. If discussing, speculating about, or trying to elucidate motive is equal to support of a perp and off limits, we might as well shut the site down and go do something else.

I am sure the defense will come up with a "motive" such as crime of passion, that he got so emotional due to (whatever circumstance the defense provides), that the sheriff was justified when he shot the judge (how many times was that? 5?).

 

[Ontario Mom]

I am sure the defense will come up with a "motive" such as crime of passion, that he got so emotional due to (whatever circumstance the defense provides), that the sheriff was justified when he shot the judge (how many times was that? 5?).

It was 8 times. His defense attorney has already stated the full video in context along with the additional evidence they have, will form his defense of Stines which will seek a full aquittal. It sounds to me like, they've got something kind of huge, if they're going for full aquittal, especially after the entire world saw what he did.

jmo

 

[OldAce]

I am sure the defense will come up with a "motive" such as crime of passion, that he got so emotional due to (whatever circumstance the defense provides), that the sheriff was justified when he shot the judge (how many times was that? 5?).

The count first bandied around was 8. Not sure of actual hits. Sheriff was probably pretty accurate tho.

 

[acehard]

I am sure the defense will come up with a "motive" such as crime of passion, that he got so emotional due to (whatever circumstance the defense provides), that the sheriff was justified when he shot the judge (how many times was that? 5?).

From what I remember total 8; 5 at his face and 3 on the floor.

 

[ilovewings]

From what I remember total 8; 5 at his face and 3 on the floor.

All I can say is "wow"----IMO that is just totally evil- that was an execution

 

[ilovewings]

It was 8 times. His defense attorney has already stated the full video in context along with the additional evidence they have, will form his defense of Stines which will seek a full aquittal. It sounds to me like, they've got something kind of huge, if they're going for full aquittal, especially after the entire world saw what he did.

jmo

Defense attorneys say a lot of things - we shall see what really happened ---at this point everything is pure speculation

 

[Ontario Mom]

Defense attorneys say a lot of things - we shall see what really happened ---at this point everything is pure speculation

Indeed it is.

 

[Tricia]

IMO, there are only two reasons for this to happen.
1- The sheriff found out about something so upsetting involving the judge that he lost it.
2- The sheriff had a break with reality and created a situation involving the judge that wasn't real.
Of course, we are missing so much information. It could be something completely different that we would never think of because of our lack of knowledge.

 

[Deleted member 296739]

IMO, there are only two reasons for this to happen.
1- The sheriff found out about something so upsetting involving the judge that he lost it.
2- The sheriff had a break with reality and created a situation involving the judge that wasn't real.
Of course, we are missing so much information. It could be something completely different that we would never think of because of our lack of knowledge.

Or 3) the sheriff found out about something that was so upsetting and involved his family and the community and under extreme emotional distress or heat of passion he did what a reasonable person would do under similar circumstances
4) one of the mental illness, brain tumor, DV and family was seeking help, sociopath, psychopath, etc theories bouncing around…
5) or none of the above and there’s something so outrageous and truth is stranger than fiction and rational minds abhor a vacuum so we fill in our own blanks as we wait more information

It’s a oddly jarring strange case that we have limited information on and an undetermined amount of time until we get more information, if ever- I personally have an uncomfortable feeling about trying to distill it to minimal buckets with limited information- just my own limited thoughts and my own perspective and opinions