New video shows Kentucky sheriff pointing gun at judge before alleged fatal shooting

A newly released video shows the moment a Kentucky sheriff pointed his gun at a judge's head before allegedly shooting him.

Surveillance footage shows Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines, 43, and District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, appearing to have a heated conversation in the judge's chambers on Sept. 19 before the sheriff pulled out his gun and pointed it at the judge.

In the video, Mullins was seen sitting behind his desk when Stines pulled out the gun. Mullins then raised his hands and tried to turn away just before Stines fired several shots at him.

According to the Courier Journal, previously released footage of the shooting was played in court during a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

The Kentucky sheriff is seen in footage shooting the judge in a shocking preliminary hearing

The video showed Mullins taking shelter under his desk as Stines fired his gun. The sheriff then approached the judge, who was still sitting under his desk, and shot him twice at close range before leaving the chambers, the footage shows.

Kentucky Detective Clayton Stamper testified that the sheriff surrendered immediately after the shooting.

Stines told police, “They're trying to kidnap my wife and child,” Stamper said.

The sheriff and judge had been friends for decades and had lunch together hours before the alleged murder.

In the video, Mullins was seen sitting behind his desk when Stines pulled out the gun. Mullins then raised his hands and tried to turn away just before Stines fired several shots at him. (Letcher County Handout)

Stamper said additional surveillance footage from the chambers, which was not shown in court or released publicly, showed the sheriff using his and Mullins' phones to make multiple calls to his daughter shortly before the shooting, according to the Courier Journal.

Police found Stines' daughter's phone number stored in the judge's phone, Stamper said.

Defense attorney Jeremy Bartley declined to reveal a possible motive for the shooting, but authorities reportedly said the incident was being investigated as a possible sex scandal.

Kentucky sheriff faces charges in fatal shooting. The judge was removed a few days earlier in the rape case

District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was allegedly killed by Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, in his judge's chambers. (Kentucky Court of Justice; Letcher County Sheriff's Office)

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“Our investigators have seized the two cell phones and they are being analyzed,” Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart previously told the Daily Mail.

Stines announced Monday that he is retiring as sheriff.

He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is being held in the Leslie County Jail. His case was referred to a grand jury for indictment.