Kentucky - Judge killed, sheriff arrested in Letcher County courthouse shooting - Sep. 19, 2024 # 4

[sds71]

New Shocking information revealed in this case. CLICK HERE to go right to the discussion about the new information.

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...

www.themountaineagle.com

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

MEDIA, MAPS, TIMELINE *NO DISCUSSION* THREAD

Thread #1
Thread #2

 

[vls12345]

I missed any gun swapping tale. Do recall phone swapping. Please refer me to it.
Thanks

 

[vls12345]

@OldAce, too late for me to edit my previous post but the talk about the gun swapping starts around minute 10 in the video. Fyi.

 

[Boxer]

i'm not a strong supporter/believer of anyone involved but i don't think stines words meant literal 'kidnapping'. i also think someone's words urged stines in being very worked-up emotionally and mentally during the time before he killed the judge. just to be clear, i don't believe someone encouraged him to kill the judge but rather someone simply prodded his state of mind prior to the shooting. i don't know why i feel this way but i do.

imo

MOO If he had a DV complaint going, then it is probable he was volatile.
And he would easily get triggered by normal interaction or question.

 

[Warwick7]

So Mullins signed an emergency order of protection against Stines? That’s what this was about?

 

[LadyL]

So Mullins signed an emergency order of protection against Stines? That’s what this was about?

it beggars belief doesn't it?
murder a longtime friend and co-worker over that ...
now I'm thinking there were probably dv incidents in his past with his wife and daughter
maybe his temper has been a well-kept secret by the townsfolk

 

[fred&edna]

MOO If he had a DV complaint going, then it is probable he was volatile.
And he would easily get triggered by normal interaction or question.

very true. yet, i still feel some people knew he was on edge and instead offering help they fueled him. my thoughts on this really don't matter because stines is the one who went into that office -basically with gun blazing - and committed murder.

jmo

 

[Boxer]

very true. yet, i still feel some people knew he was on edge and instead offering help they fueled him. my thoughts on this really don't matter because stines is the one who went into that office -basically with gun blazing - and committed murder.

jmo

Well that would actually be a crime if someone intentionally fueled Stines anger, guessing at the outcome.
It seems that would be a family member, someone involved with his home situation, though it seems likely falls short of actual incitement.

*****
Incitement to Murder: This involves encouraging someone to commit a crime they are already inclined to commit. However, to be considered criminal incitement, the encouragement must not be mere advocacy of ideas or expression of belief, but rather involve advocacy of an act or acts of violence or assertion of the rightness of, or the right to commit, any such act or acts.
++++

 

[Tricia]

Here is a video of a lot of the video that has been released all in one video with the exception of what was on Court TV recently I believe.

 

[LadyL]

wow he's known one of the cops (Bates?) since they were 14
if he says 'cmon now' and 'be fair to me' one more time ...
he was definitely paranoid

 

[PrairieWind]

It seems very unlikely to me that Mullins would have signed such an order. That should not have gone to him as judge. And if he had, would they have all gone to lunch that day? A DV order should have prevented Stines from possessing his firearm and I don't think Mullins would have been so casual in his actions in his office that day.

 

[tlcya]

It seems very unlikely to me that Mullins would have signed such an order. That should not have gone to him as judge. And if he had, would they have all gone to lunch that day? A DV order should have prevented Stines from possessing his firearm and I don't think Mullins would have been so casual in his actions in his office that day.

Yes, I don't necessarily believe the judge signed an order against Mickey, as others have said, that would be unusual. If my spouse were the sheriff of a town I don't know that I would feel comfortable having that cop shop and a courthouse fulll of my spouse's long time associates and coworkers know all my personal beeswax JMO. It sounds as if Mickey had a "file" in his hand he wanted to talk to the judge about. The witness seems to be saying it was something to do with an Emergency Protection Order. against who about what we have no clue.

Did Mickey get served and that was the "file" he was holding? Did he want the judge to somehow intervene on his behalf? Was Mickey the one asking for an EPO against someone else? If so who? and why?

Very strange, but feels very relevant, whatever was in this file that Mickey was so anxious to speak to Mullins about.

 

[fred&edna]

Well that would actually be a crime if someone intentionally fueled Stines anger, guessing at the outcome.
It seems that would be a family member, someone involved with his home situation, though it seems likely falls short of actual incitement.

*****
Incitement to Murder: This involves encouraging someone to commit a crime they are already inclined to commit. However, to be considered criminal incitement, the encouragement must not be mere advocacy of ideas or expression of belief, but rather involve advocacy of an act or acts of violence or assertion of the rightness of, or the right to commit, any such act or acts.
++++

no, i don't believe someone intentionally fueled stines to murder the judge. . i stated this in post 1077 in previous thread. it's just a belief that nags at me... some others around mullins and stines really like to incite trouble, fuel flames, etc... but, not exactly inciting murder.

jmo

 

[Boxer]

no, i don't believe someone intentionally fueled stines to murder the judge. . i stated this in post 1077 in previous thread. it's just a belief that nags at me... some others around mullins and stines really like to incite trouble, fuel flames, etc... but, not exactly inciting murder.

jmo

You would think a sheriff needs not to be able to be pushed to murder by an office gossip or a ridiculing subordinate. But who knows. Such an awful situation.

 

[Dotta]

New extended video

New video shows moments before Kentucky sheriff shot judge best friend

Former Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines is accused of shooting and killing Letcher County District Judge Kevin Mullins in September 2024.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[fred&edna]

You would think a sheriff needs not to be able to be pushed to murder by an office gossip or a ridiculing subordinate. But who knows. Such an awful situation.

yep, you'd think. but, nearly anything that can have consequences on an elected position can stir-up all kinds of vicious behavior. and, bad behavior has been occurring in and around that courthouse for years... and has obviously become worse.

jmo

 

[tlcya]

So if the inappropriate with the sheriff's daughter stuff was rumor and a red herring, why the need for the judge's phone? I've read that Stines facetimed his aunt on his own phone and then tried to call his daughter from Mullins phone. The video at the recently linked DM article seems to support that a facetime was occurring as the sheriff was also attempting to use the judge's phone. Was that because his daughter and/or wife weren't accepting calls from Stines' phone? Was Stines under an EPO? If so, why would the judge allow him to try to break it by contacting a family member from the judge's phone?

I really think this "file" whatever it is behind this murder but that theory begs more questions than answers IMO

 

[Ontario Mom]

So if the inappropriate with the sheriff's daughter stuff was rumor and a red herring, why the need for the judge's phone? I've read that Stines facetimed his aunt on his own phone and then tried to call his daughter from Mullins phone. The video at the recently linked DM article seems to support that a facetime was occurring as the sheriff was also attempting to use the judge's phone. Was that because his daughter and/or wife weren't accepting calls from Stines' phone? Was Stines under an EPO? If so, why would the judge allow him to try to break it by contacting a family member from the judge's phone?

I really think this "file" whatever it is behind this murder but that theory begs more questions than answers IMO

I think you may be on to something with him using the judge's phone being possibly connected to an EPO. I mean, if he was under one, using someone else's phone to call his home would make sense. Although I also agree it creates more questions for sure.

 

[mmeynstyn]

If there was an EPO signed from someone other than Judge Mullins, would Judge Mullins be aware of it? Just curious why the Judge would hand MS his phone if he knew about an EPO.

 

[tlcya]

If there was an EPO signed from someone other than Judge Mullins, would Judge Mullins be aware of it? Just curious why the Judge would hand MS his phone if he knew about an EPO.

that is the puzzler. Was there an EPO on Stines? If so who issued it? Was that the file he seemed so anxious to talk to Mullins about? Did he even talk to Mullins about it? How did he explain his need for the judge's phone in such a way that the judge just handed it over?