Following the tragic death of District Judge Kevin Mullins in Letcher County on a Thursday afternoon, the lights dimmed in Whitesburg, a quiet town in Kentucky. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines is facing charges for the murder of the respected judge, which occurred after an argument escalated within the courthouse chambers. The tragedy sent shock waves through the close-knit community in Appalachia. It prompted enquiries into the permissibility of such an incident.
The fatal incident
The Kentucky State Police says Sheriff Shawn Stines allegedly shot Judge Mullins multiple times during the altercation inside the courthouse. The shooting reportedly occurred around 3 p.m., leading to Mullins’ immediate death at the scene. Stines, 43, who had served as county sheriff for approximately eight years, surrendered with no resistance and was immediately taken into custody.
Details about the debate that led to the shooting are yet to be known. Despite others in the court, no one was inside the chief magistrate’s chambers during the gunfire, and only the chief magistrate and another were killed. The town remains in mourning, bewildered, and perplexed, wondering what could have sparked such a horrific outcome between two public figures known for their infamous death-defying arguments.
A community in shock
Whitesburg is a small town of about 1,700 residents southeast of Lexington, where everyone knows everyone. The community is in mourning as people try to make sense of what happened. Local prosecutor Matt Butler, who just happens to be a cousin of Judge Mullins, says the emotional toll taken by the judge’s murder runs very deep across the town. As Butler recalls, “These two men were like brothers to me. The tragedy was particularly poignant because Mullins had married my sister-in-law.
The news devastated Butler’s children, Ian and Ivy, who regarded Mullins as an uncle and begged to see him one last time. “Please pray for Judge Mullins’ family and my children. Ian and Ivy have cried and cried,” Butler said in a tearful overture.
We immediately locked down the courthouse to further investigate this horrific incident. We temporarily placed local schools and colleges in the vicinity under lockdown.
Who was Judge Kevin Mullins?
Judge Kevin Mullins has been a prominent figure in Letcher County for over 15 years. Appointed by former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear in 2009, Mullins emerged as a compassionate and progressive judge who saw rehabilitation and recovery take the priority. His work in combating substance abuse within the community has garnered significant recognition. He has helped hundreds of battling addicts recover their lives through treatment.
His activism was evident in his participation in the Addiction Recovery Care program, which he helped introduce to over 50 counties across Kentucky. He was also a member of the leadership team that laid the groundwork for the responsive effort to support treatment in opioid recovery efforts. Mullins’ contributions to work on drug rehabilitation in Kentucky will not only be a healthy legacy, but one that has had a significant influence on many people’s lives.
Besides professional success, the judge was also a family man. He lived in Jackhorn, Kentucky, with his wife, and people loved him not only for his work but also for his kind nature.
Sheriff Shawn M. Stines
Sheriff Shawn Stines, another well-known figure in the city of Whitesburg, is another familiar face. Stines’ election as sheriff in 2018 and subsequent re-election in 2022 established her as a prominent figure in community policing and drug-related crime eradication in Letcher County. Just last month, Stines thanked the community for their assistance in catching fugitives and getting drugs off the streets through social media.
Whether it’s a heated argument or something that popped up in the line of duty, what transpired between Stines and Mullins remains unknown at this point in time. The Kentucky State Police continue to dig deeper into the events that will hopefully uncover the final pieces that led up to this tragic moment. As a result, many in this community wonder what could have gone wrong between two men who had such close ties to the town’s leadership.
Grief and Prayers
The shooting has left the entire state of Kentucky in shock. Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court Laurance B. VanMeter reacted to the incident with shock, saying, “I am devastated regarding this senseless act of violence. “My deepest prayers are with Judge Mullins’ family and the people of Letcher County as they attempt to process this tragic loss.”
Among those echoing this sentiment was Governor Andy Beshear, who pleaded for a better tomorrow in light of the senseless killings. “There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow,” he said while posting on social media.
An investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, and special prosecutors assigned by the office of Kentucky’s Attorney General have ensured that the case goes before a fair and full court.
Sheriff Stines is currently facing first-degree murder charges, but it’s still unclear what might have prompted the shooting.
A Town in Mourning
As everyone in Letcher County deals with the loss of Judge Mullins, difficult days abound. For the time being, the courthouse will remain closed, causing anger and confusion. For a town that once prided itself on the closeness of its family bonds, the death of a much-loved judge by an elected sheriff undermined the foundations of society.
The people of Whitesburg and Letcher County will move to tears and memories in an effort to heal Judge Mullins’ life and legacy for now. His unwavering fight in the opioid epidemic and assistance in finding recovery for individuals will live well beyond the time he served as a judge; the town will struggle to understand the tragedy that took him away so early.
