A Kentucky sheriff is jailed and charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of a district judge Thursday afternoon inside the Letcher County Courthouse.

Kentucky State Police investigators allege Letcher County sheriff killed District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54.

“The preliminary investigation indicates that Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, of McRoberts, fatally shot Mullins following an argument inside the courthouse. Stines was taken into custody at the scene without incident. Stines has been charged with one count of murder 1st degree,” a KSP press release said.

A KSP post in the town of Hazard received a call at 2:55 p.m. reporting shots had been fired inside the courthouse. Multiple law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services responded to the scene and found Mullins with multiple gunshot wounds.

Attempts were made to save the judge’s life, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

KSP said Stines was taken into custody at the courthouse without incident.

Earlier in the week, Stines had been deposed in a lawsuit filed by two women, one of whom alleged that a deputy forced her to have sex inside Mullins’ chambers for six months in exchange for staying out of jail, reported WKYT.  

The lawsuit accused Stines of “deliberate indifference in failing to adequately train and supervise” the now-former deputy, who pleaded guilty to raping the female prisoner while she was on home incarceration.