On September 19, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky. A 911 call revealed the alarming news: “Judge has been shot.” The caller, in a state of distress, urgently requested an ambulance, indicating the severity of the situation. The dispatcher quickly gathered details, and it became clear that Judge Kevin Mullins had been shot, allegedly by Shawn Stines, the then-sheriff of Letcher County.
Stines, 44, reportedly entered the courthouse and requested to speak with Judge Mullins alone. Once inside the judge’s chambers, the two men became involved in an argument. According to authorities, the situation escalated, and Stines shot Mullins multiple times before surrendering to law enforcement.
The incident shocked the community, as Stines and Mullins had a long history of friendship, spanning roughly three decades. The shooting came just days after Stines had been deposed in a federal lawsuit filed by Sabrina Adkins, a defendant who had made disturbing allegations against Judge Mullins. Adkins claimed to have seen Mullins engaging in inappropriate conduct with women in exchange for special treatment, a claim that had been part of an ongoing investigation into former deputy Ben Fields.
In the days leading up to the shooting, Stines’ legal team had been preparing a defense, citing the case involving Adkins. Her accusations against Mullins had sparked significant controversy, and the deposition involving Stines on September 16, just three days before the fatal shooting, had likely added to the tension between the sheriff and the judge.
The law enforcement response to the shooting was swift, with bodycam footage and 911 audio capturing the early moments of the crisis. The footage provided a chilling look at the immediate aftermath, as officers arrived at the courthouse and took control of the situation. Stines, after allegedly committing the crime, surrendered without further violence.
The incident raised numerous questions about the relationship between Stines and Mullins, particularly in light of the allegations against the judge. The claims made by Adkins, which were part of a larger investigation into corruption and misconduct, seemed to have played a significant role in the events leading up to the shooting. The investigation into the shooting and the broader circumstances surrounding it is ongoing, with both legal teams preparing for what promises to be a complex and highly publicized case.
This tragic event has left the community in shock, as the loss of a public figure like Judge Mullins, especially under such violent and controversial circumstances, has shaken the region to its core. The full details of the case, including the motivations behind Stines’ actions, are still being uncovered as the investigation continues.
