Graphic surveillance footage shows the chilling moment a Kentucky sheriff pointed his gun at a judge's head and allegedly shot and killed him. The motive for the shocking incident remains unclear, but authorities are reportedly investigating a possible sex scandal.
A newly released surveillance video has captured the horrifying moment when a Kentucky sheriff pointed his gun at a judge's head and allegedly shot and killed him. The chilling footage, played in court during a preliminary hearing, shows the chilling sequence of events that led to the fatal shooting.
The video shows Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, and District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, in the judge's chambers engaged in what appeared to be a heated conversation on September 19, 2022. Suddenly, Stines pulls out his gun and points it at Mullins, who was sitting behind his desk.
Kentucky Sheriff Caught on Camera Shooting Judge in Head
Mullins, with his hands raised, attempts to turn away just before Stines fires several rounds at him. The video shows Mullins seeking cover under his desk as the gunshots ring out. Stines then approaches the judge, who is still under his desk, and shoots him twice at close range before leaving the chambers.
According to Kentucky Detective Clayton Stamper, Stines surrendered immediately after the shooting. The sheriff told police, "They're trying to kidnap my wife and kid," Stamper testified. However, authorities have not yet determined a motive for the incident.
Kentucky Sheriff Caught on Camera Shooting Judge in Head
Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley declined to reveal a possible motive, but authorities reportedly said the incident was being investigated as a possible sex scandal. Investigators have reportedly seized and are analyzing the cell phones of both Stines and Mullins for any clues.
The sheriff and the judge had been friends for decades and had lunch together hours before the alleged killing. Additional surveillance footage from inside the chambers, not yet shown in court or publicly released, captured the sheriff using his and Mullins' phones to make multiple calls to his daughter just before the shooting, according to the Courier Journal.
Kentucky Sheriff Caught on Camera Shooting Judge in Head
Police found Stines' daughter's phone number saved in the judge's phone, Stamper said.
Stines announced Monday that he was retiring as sheriff. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is being held at the Leslie County Jail. His case was sent to a grand jury for indictment.
Kentucky Sheriff Caught on Camera Shooting Judge in Head
The shooting has shaken the small community of Letcher County, where both Stines and Mullins were well-known figures. The incident has raised questions about the possible motivations behind the crime and the potential for a wider scandal.
As the investigation continues, authorities are trying to determine the exact circumstances leading to the shooting and the role that any alleged sex scandal may have played. The newly released video provides a chilling glimpse into the tragic events that unfolded that day, leaving a community in mourning and searching for answers.
