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Kentucky sheriff charged in judge's murder did not plan killing, caught in 'heat of passion': lawyer

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Kentucky sheriff charged in judge's murder did not plan killing, caught in 'heat of passion': lawyer

Shawn “Mickey” Stines, the Kentucky sheriff accused of shooting a district judge dead in his chambers, did not plan the killing and was not in his right mind, according to his lawyer. 

“It was not something that was planned and occurred in the heat of passion,” defense attorney Jeremy Bartley told People. “For us, the highest level of culpability should be manslaughter based on the partial defense of extreme emotional disturbance.”

A video of the shooting, played without audio during an Oct. 1 preliminary hearing, allegedly showed Letcher County Sheriff Stines shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins multiple times as he sat at his desk on Sept. 19.

The sheriff, the judge’s longtime colleague and friend, allegedly continued to fire after Mullins fell to the floor. 

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KENTUCKY SHERIFF SEEN IN FOOTAGE SHOOTING AT JUDGE IN SHOCKING PRELIMINARY HEARING

Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines looks over at the prosecutors during his arraignment at the Morgan County Courthouse in West Liberty, Kentucky, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Stines is accused of killing District Judge Kevin Mullins. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

“We believe there had to be a compelling reason for Sheriff Stines to feel like he had to take action,” Bartley said. “We are looking forward to obtaining additional information and begin[ning] to tell his story.”

Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stamper testified at the preliminary hearing that the two men had eaten lunch together with a group in the hours before the shooting, according to the Louisville Courier Journal. 

“I was told that the judge made a statement to Mickey about, ‘Do we need to meet private in my chambers?’” Stamper testified, the Associated Press reported.

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CASEY ANTHONY JUDGE WARNS KENTUCKY MAGISTRATE MURDER HIGHLIGHTS NEW REALITY, SAYS HE KEPT GUARD DOG TO BE SAFE

District Judge Kevin Mullins and Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines

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

According to Stamper, Stines attempted to call his daughter on his own phone, then on Mullins’ phone – according to the AP, Stines’ daughter was stored in Mullins’ contacts. 

“It could be, but I don’t know that for a fact,” Stamper said when asked whether Stines was motivated to shoot Mullins based on what he saw on the judge’s phone.

NEW VIDEO SHOWS KENTUCKY SHERIFF POINTING GUN AT JUDGE BEFORE ALLEGED FATAL SHOOTING

Kentucky sheriff seen pointing his gun at a sheriff

Kentucky sheriff seen pointing his gun at the judge in his chambers. (Letcher County handout)

“I talked to him, but he didn’t say nothing about why this had happened,” Stamper said, according to the AP. “But he was calm… Basically, all he said was, ‘Treat me fair.’”

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When Stines was taken into custody, he allegedly told another officer, “they’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid,” Stamper said.

Sheriff Stines sits in courtroom

Shawn “Mickey” Stines wipes his eyes as he listens to testimony during his arraignment on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

The shooting in the city of Whitesburg has shaken the community of Letcher County, Kentucky, where Stines served as a bailiff in Mullins’ court before becoming sheriff in 2018. 

“We’re all in a state of shock over it,” Garnard Kincer Jr., Mullins’ friend and former mayor of Jenkins, told People. “It practically immobilized us. We just can’t believe it happened.”

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines appears in a mugshot

Booking photo of Shawn Stines, provided by Leslie County Detention Center in Kentucky on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. (Leslie County Detention Center via AP)

Stines resigned as sheriff last week, but has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder. A judge determined at the Oct. 2 hearing that there was sufficient evidence to move forward with the case. 

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Bartley could not be reached for comment at press time.

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Another Trump vs Harris debate? Voters in key Georgia county say 'no thanks'

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Another Trump vs Harris debate? Voters in key Georgia county say 'no thanks'

MARIETTA, Ga. – Americans living in the Atlanta suburbs appear to have little appetite for another primetime match-up between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“If you don’t know them by now, there ain’t no hope,” one man who declined to give his name told Fox News Digital in Acworth, Georgia, last week.

There is less than a month left until Election Day, and Georgia residents are bracing for early voting to begin in their state next week.

The Peach State is in play this election after President Biden flipped it blue for the first time in years during the 2020 race, winning over Trump by less than 1%.

GEORGIA GOP CHAIR SHARES 2-PRONGED ELECTION STRATEGY AS TRUMP WORKS TO WIN BACK PEACH STATE

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Voters in Cobb County, Georgia, who spoke with Fox News Digital were not enthused about the prospects of a second presidential debate. (Getty Images)

A not insignificant amount of that support came from Cobb County, Georgia, where Biden won by an even wider margin than he did statewide.

And like Biden and Trump in 2020, the ex-president and Harris have only had one debate.

Trump has refused to participate in a second one, while Harris and her allies are eager for another head-to-head.

But people in Cobb County who spoke with Fox News Digital seemed unenthusiastic about the prospect of a second debate.

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“I really don’t think so,” Howard Segan, who spoke with Fox News Digital outside of a Marietta Whole Foods, answered when asked if Americans needed another debate. “I don’t think Trump is a very good debater at all. And I think [Harris is] an empty suit.”

Another man who identified himself as Scott noted his grandfather was involved in politics and suggested he himself was disenchanted with its pageantry at an early age.

SPEAKER JOHNSON RIPS ‘LACK OF LEADERSHIP’ IN BIDEN ADMIN’S HELENE RESPONSE: ‘ALARMED AND DISAPPOINTED’

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One man who spoke with Fox News Digital said Trump was bad at debating and called Harris “an empty suit.” (Fox News Digital)

“I realized most of it is staged anyway, so I really don’t care about the debates,” Scott said.

A woman named Deb who is opposed to Harris said, “She says nothing, it’s word salad. So what’s there to debate? She can’t even answer questions.”

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Meanwhile, a man in Marietta named Toli said he “honestly” would like to see another debate but saw little value in the exercise.

“It doesn’t really matter at this point, because people are going to have their own views, no matter what they do,” Toli said. “Maybe 20 years ago we had debates where people watched, they were riveted to the screen trying to figure out what their opinions are. But now it’s so polarized. Because of social media and everything else, people get their opinion of the candidate… every day.”

Sandy, one of the few people who spoke with Fox News Digital who did want a second debate, suggested she was not excited about either of its would-be participants.

FORMER REPUBLICAN US SENATOR ENDORSES KAMALA HARRIS, SAYS ELECTION OFFERS ‘STARK CHOICE’

Woman at grocery store

Sandy said she would like to see another debate but did not appear enthused with either candidate. (Fox News Digital)

“I just think a lot of people have questions,” Sandy explained.

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“I mean, [Harris has] just touched the surface, and if she wants the votes, she needs to come forth with what she’s going to do, actually do. And also with Trump, I mean, he doesn’t put out any information other than hate.”

A recent Fox News poll taken late last month found Harris with a slim three-point lead over Trump in Georgia.

Peach State residents are heading to the polls for early voting from Oct. 15 through Nov. 1.

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Tennessee man smashes gas pumps, throws rock at window after he was denied access to bathroom, police say

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Tennessee man smashes gas pumps, throws rock at window after he was denied access to bathroom, police say

A man allegedly vandalized a gas station in Memphis, Tennessee, after he was denied access to its bathroom, according to police.

The suspect driving a white Chevy Impala stopped at a gas station on Winchester Road shortly before 2 p.m. on Sept. 16, according to WMC.

He was denied access to the gas station bathroom after stopping at the business.

3 EX-OFFICERS CONVICTED IN FATAL BEATING OF TYRE NICHOLS

A man is accused of vandalizing a gas station in Memphis, Tennessee, after he was denied access to the business’ bathroom. (Getty Images)

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The man became angry, walked outside and threw a rock at the store’s window before leaving in his vehicle.

A short time later, the man returned to the gas station and began to smash two gas pumps.

MORE THAN 50 SEMI-TRUCKS TIRES VANDALIZED AT TENNESSEE TRUCK STOP, DEPUTIES SAY

Gas station pump

The man threw a rock at the store’s window and smashed two gas pumps. (Getty Images)

Video of the incident shows the upset man smashing a pump on the ground, swinging it around and hitting it on the ground until the nozzle popped off and gas began spewing out.

Police are searching for the suspect, who is wanted for vandalism.

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Gas station

Police are searching for the suspect, who is wanted for vandalism. (Getty Images)

The suspect was described as average height, with short dark hair and a chin beard.

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Body language expert says Laundrie parents' first police encounter fair to question – but with major caveat

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Body language expert says Laundrie parents' first police encounter fair to question – but with major caveat

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Newly released bodycam video from the Laundrie family’s first encounter with police after Gabby Petito’s disappearance in 2021 shows some red flags, according to a body language expert – but she noted that the parents were smart for following the instructions of their lawyer.

“Their natural instinct, just like Casey Anthony and George Anthony, at the very beginning, they’re going to be protective,” Susan Constantine told Fox News Digital.

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The bodycam video shows Christopher and Roberta Laundrie declining to speak with North Port police, who at the time were assisting a New York detective with the initial stages of the search for Petito.

GABBY PETITO BODYCAM SHOWS BRIAN LAUNDRIE’S PARENTS REFUSE TO HELP POLICE AFTER MISSING PERSON REPORT

Christopher and Roberta Laundrie answer their front door after police knocked on Sept. 11, 2021, looking for missing Gabby Petito. Their son had returned home to North Port, Florida, without her after the FBI says he killed her at a campsite north of Jackson, Wyoming, two weeks earlier. (North Port PD)

The parents’ responses may invite questions, Constantine said. Some were even suspicious. But without a “cluster of behavior” – which she defines as three red flags across two channels within 7 seconds – she wouldn’t call them out on their interaction with police.

Watch as Susan Constantine breaks down the Laundrie bodycam:

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FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

“There is reason to question,” she said. “But you also have to look at it from a parent’s point of view. What would you do if this happened to you?”

Constantine, who spent part of the week training West Virginia’s Supreme Court justices on how to identify liars, also has a forthcoming book on how to spot “liars, cons, scammers, predators and criminals.” 

She said it’s fair to to question whether the Laundries knew more than they let on – but it was also proper for them to heed the advice of their attorney, who told them not to speak with investigators without him present.

North Port police recorded the encounter on Sept. 11, 2021, the day Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, reported her missing in her New York hometown. The video was just made public through public records requests. Police left after towing Petito’s van from the Laundries’ driveway.

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“There is reason to question. But you also have to look at it from a parent’s point of view. What would you do if this happened to you?”

— Susan Constantine, body language analyst

Gabby Petito memorial outside Laundrie home

Mourners set up a makeshift memorial for Gabby Petito on the Laundries’ front lawn in North Port, Florida, after her remains were found in Wyoming. She was engaged to their son, Brian Laundrie, who killed himself and left behind a note in which he confessed to causing her death. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

Brian Laundrie drove it home from Wyoming, where the FBI says he killed Petito and left her at a campsite in the Bridger-Teton National Forest north of Jackson.

A family of travel bloggers found clues in their own dashcam video of the area, which helped authorities find her remains.

The slaying inspired Petito’s parents to found a nonprofit foundation in her honor, assisting other families of missing persons and advocating against domestic violence.

GO HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS DIGITAL

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Brian Laundrie (Instagram)

Brian Laundrie poses in an Instagram photo. He was the former fiance of Gabby Petito and the only suspect in her death after her remains were uncovered at a campsite the couple shared in the Bridger-Teton National Forest north of Jackson, Wyoming. (Instagram)

They have lobbied for federal legislation, some of which became law with bipartisan support, as well as lethality assessment laws in Florida, Utah and New York designed to give police grounds and authority to separate victims from their abusers.

 

The foundation donated $100,000 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline last year.

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 (SAFE).



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