At 12.39 p.m. on September 19th, 2024, 54, 54-year-old Kevin Mullins had less than 15 minutes left to live.

But of course, he didn't know that at the time. Overall, it seemed like a

typical Thursday afternoon in Whitesburg, Kentucky. Hot, humid, and overcast. Mullins had just

come back from a group lunch at streetside grill and bar, and now he sat at his desk, cigarette in hand,

paper spread in front of him.

He chatted calmly with a few colleagues.

A camera hung in plain sight, passively recording from the corner.

It was then at 2.39 p.m.

that Mullins' longtime friend Mickey Steins entered the room and asked to speak with

Mullins privately. After everyone else filed out, Stein sat down. The two men spoke for several minutes.

Mullins still puffing a cigarette, Stein's leaning back casually in his chair.

At one point, Stein's made a few brief calls, even borrowing Mullins' phone for one of them.

On the surface, their conversation seemed harmless enough, until Stein's abruptly stood up,

locked the door, and shot Mullins nine times in a row at point-blank range,

all in full view of the security camera.

It was one of the biggest stories that has come across our newsroom. People were

enamored by it. Their attention was grabbed. Like, it was so shocking.

It's not often you see a murder unfold so conspicuously on video.

But the footage itself is only part of what makes this particular crime so disturbing.

Perhaps more jarring is where it took place and who was involved.

When it came across the wire, we knew there was a shooting near the courthouse.

We didn't know it was inside.

...