WHITESBURG, KY — A newly obtained surveillance video shows the final minutes inside Judge Kevin Mullins’ chambers before he was fatally shot, capturing what begins as a seemingly calm interaction that escalates rapidly into violence.

The extended footage, obtained by The Courier Journal through an open records request, documents the events leading up to the Sept. 19, 2024, shooting in Letcher County. Former Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines is accused of killing Mullins in his office. A shorter version of the video had previously been presented in court on Oct. 1.

The video begins at 2:36 p.m. by showing two unidentified individuals seated at Mullins’ desk. Mullins enters and exits the room several times before eventually sitting down to join the discussion. Another person later enters, bringing the group to four.

At 2:39 p.m., Stines arrives with another man. After brief conversation, the others exit, leaving Stines and Mullins alone. They sit across from each other for several minutes. Though the footage has no audio, Mullins, who faces the camera, appears to be speaking.

At one point, Stines appears to get up as if preparing to leave, then returns to his seat. Around 2:48 p.m., he attempts to use a cell phone, then gestures toward Mullins, who hands over his own phone. Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper later testified that Stines was trying to call his daughter using both devices, according to The Courier Journal’s reporting.

Stines soon places the phone on the desk, stands, adjusts his waistband, and retrieves a handgun. He moves toward Mullins, who raises his hands and stands. Stines motions to the chair, prompting Mullins to sit again.

Stines approaches the door, briefly obscuring the camera’s view. Mullins appears to speak to him as Stines lingers near the exit, weapon still in hand. Stines then takes a few steps backward before the footage is redacted.

In previously shown court video, Stines is seen aiming the gun at Mullins as the judge attempts to take cover under his desk. Moments later, Stines opens the door, exits, then re-enters the chambers for a few seconds before finally leaving. His actions during this time remain unclear due to video redactions.

Soon after, an unidentified man is seen walking through the facility while on the phone. Stines turned himself in to police around 3 p.m. without incident. That moment is not captured in the footage.

Earlier video, released by Court TV in February, shows Stines, Mullins, and others conversing inside the chambers earlier that same day with no visible signs of conflict. Several of those individuals also appear in the newly released footage.

Authorities say Mullins and Stines had lunch with a group that afternoon. Stamper testified that a witness claimed Mullins asked Stines if they needed to meet in private, though the reason for that conversation remains unclear.

Stines’ attorney, Jeremy Bartley, has notified the court that he plans to present expert testimony about his client’s mental state at trial. A judge ordered a psychological evaluation in March to determine whether Stines could understand the criminality of his actions or conform to the law at the time of the shooting.

Bartley has previously said, “There’s more evidence that would support a finding that he wasn’t criminally responsible,” but has not elaborated further.