Shocking new video has surfaced capturing the chilling moment a Kentucky sheriff pointed his gun at a judge’s head before allegedly shooting him dead.
The newly released surveillance footage shows Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines with District Judge Kevin Mullins in his chambers having what appeared to be a heated exchange before the sheriff pulled out his gun and pointed it at the jurist’s head.
Mullins, who was sitting behind his desk, raised his hands in fear and attempted to turn away just moments before Stines ruthlessly fired eight rounds at him, the footage shows.
Initial footage from the brutal slaying was played by prosecutors during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
The video showed Mullins hiding under his desk as Stines fired off shots. The sheriff then approached the judge — who was under his desk — and shot him twice at close range before leaving the chambers where Mullins served for 15 years, the disturbing footage shows.
Kentucky Detective Clayton Stamper testified that the sheriff surrendered immediately after the shooting, asking police to “treat me fair” upon being taken into custody.
Stines then told police, “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid,” Stamper said.
Stines, 43, was decades-long friends with Mullins, 54, and even had lunch with him on Sept. 19 — hours before allegedly murdering the judge inside the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg.
Stamper testified that one witness who attended the lunch said they saw Mullins ask Stines if they needed to meet privately, though the context wasn’t provided, the Courier Journal reported.
He added that additional surveillance footage from inside the chambers — not shown in court or released — captured the sheriff using his and Mullins’ phones to make multiple calls to his daughter just before the cold-blooded slaying.
Stamper confirmed that police found Stines’ daughter’s phone number saved in the judge’s phone.
The case remains under investigation as police interview additional witnesses and examine both cellphones.
Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley declined to discuss a possible motive for the shooting but authorities reportedly suggested the murder was being investigated as a possible sex scandal.
Authorities did not elaborate on the sex scandal in question.
Stines announced Monday that he was retiring from his position as sheriff after Gov. Andy Beshear called for his resignation.
He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is being held at the Leslie County Jail.
The case was sent to the grand jury for indictment.
