Chilling new details emerge in murder of Kentucky judge 'shot dead by sheriff in courthouse'

A Kentucky sheriff exchanged phones with a section justice earlier shooting him dormant successful his chambers, according to a caller report. 

District justice Kevin Mullins, 54, was changeable dormant successful his bureau aft a abbreviated statement by Letcher County sheriff Mickey Stines, 44, according to police.

A motive for the shooting remains unclear, but video from the judge's bureau shows the 2 men looked astatine each other's phones earlier Stines opened fire, sources told The Mountain Eagle.

Sheriff Stines had entered the courtroom and asked to talk to Mullins privately earlier they headed to the judge's office.

After a abbreviated conversation, Stines reportedly stood up to fastener the doorway and each man past took their cellphone retired and handed it to the other, the section outlet reported. 

Stines past allegedly drew his weapon, walked astir the judge's table and changeable him repeatedly arsenic Mullins fell to the floor.

The sheriff and the justice had seemingly had luncheon unneurotic with different tribunal employees hours earlier the killing. 

Stines, a beloved begetter of 2 who was reportedly readying to discontinue erstwhile his word ended, has been charged with first-degree murder. 

He was justice Mullins' bailiff earlier helium became sheriff successful 2018.

Mullins, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died astatine the scene, and Stines surrendered without incident. 

The fatal shooting sent daze waves done a tight-knit Appalachian municipality and region spot of authorities with astir 1,700 residents located astir 145 miles southeast of Lexington.

Lead region authoritative Matt Butler described an outpouring of sympathy arsenic helium recused himself and his bureau from investigations successful the shooting, citing societal and household ties to Mullins.

'We each cognize each different here. ... Anyone from Letcher County would archer you that Judge Mullins and I joined sisters and that we person children who are archetypal cousins but enactment similar siblings,' Butler said successful connection from his office.

'For that reason, among others, I person already taken steps to recuse myself and my full office.'

Letcher County’s judge-executive signed an bid closing connected Friday the region courthouse wherever the shooting took place.

Mullins was appointed to service arsenic a justice successful the state's 47th territory nether erstwhile Governor Steve Beshear successful 2009.

He oversaw juvenile matters, metropolis and region ordinances, misdemeanors, postulation offenses, arraignments, felony probable origin hearings, claims involving $2,500 oregon less, civilian cases involving $5,000 oregon less, voluntary and involuntary intelligence commitments and home unit cases, according to a Letcher County website.

Mullins besides gained designation for his efforts to dainty those with cause addiction alternatively than incarcerate them, starting a programme successful 2010 that allowed inmates with substance maltreatment disorders to enroll successful inpatient attraction arsenic a information of pretrial release.

He was antecedently an adjunct commonwealth lawyer for 9 and a fractional years, focusing connected drug-related offenses.

Stines, meanwhile, was elected sheriff successful 2018 and reelected successful 2022.