The death of Kevin Mullins Thursday shocked close-knit Whitesburg, Kentucky. The sheriff charged with murder is accused of ignoring sexual abuse inside the courthouse.

Kentucky State Police are searching for motive as they investigate the fatal shooting of a district judge by a sheriff after the two had an argument inside the judge’s chambers, according to police.

The violence erupted after an argument inside the courthouse, police said. It wasn’t clear what led to the shooting.

Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was fatally shot in a courthouse at Whitesburg, Kentucky, on Thursday afternoon, according to Kentucky State Police.

A sheriff charged with murder in the shooting of a rural Kentucky judge in his courthouse chambers is accused in a federal lawsuit of ignoring abuse by one of his deputies, who later pleaded guilty to

Letcher District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was shot at the county courthouse, the local coroner said. One person is in custody in connection with the shooting.

After word spread that Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines was charged with first-degree murder, and that Kevin Mullins, a district judge, had been shot, Kentucky leaders and community members saw yet another local act of gun violence make national news.

Investigators are searching for a motive after a Kentucky sheriff was arrested for allegedly gunning down a judge in his chambers, officials said.

Preliminary investigation indicates Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines shot District Judge Kevin Mullins multiple times following an argument inside the courthouse, according to Kentucky State Police.