"Kentucky Sheriff Fatally Shoots Judge in Chambers After Heated Argument, Police Report"

Investigators are trying to determine what motivated a Kentucky sheriff to allegedly shoot and kill a district judge after the two had an argument inside the judge’s chambers, according to Kentucky State Police.

District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was found around 3 p.m. Thursday with multiple gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead at the Letcher County courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky, Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart said at a Thursday evening news conference.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, shot Mullins after an argument inside the judge’s chambers, a preliminary investigation revealed. Stines is now facing a first-degree murder charge, state police said. CNN is trying to determine whether Stines has retained an attorney.

Stines turned himself in after the shooting and was arrested at the scene without incident on Thursday, authorities said. He is cooperating with authorities, Gayheart said. It is unclear who will take over as the county sheriff following the arrest of Stines, who had been sheriff for about eight years.

“This community is small in nature, and we’re all shook,” Gayheart said about the shooting.

While other people were in the building at the time, no one else was inside the judge’s chambers and no other injuries were reported. There’s no threat to the public, Gayheart added