A sheriff in Kentucky is accused of fatally shooting a district judge at a courthouse Thursday afternoon, authorities said. Judge Kevin Mullins was in his district office when he was shot shortly before 3 p.m., and Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines has been detained in the slaying, Kentucky State Police said Thursday night.

The sheriff who allegedly shot and killed a rural Kentucky judge in his courthouse chambers was accused in a federal lawsuit of failing to investigate allegations that one of his deputies repeatedly sexually abused a woman in the same judge's chambers.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A judge in a rural Kentucky county was fatally shot in his courthouse chambers Thursday, and the local sheriff was charged with murder in the killing, police said.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins at the Letcher County Courthouse Thursday afternoon, according to officials. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stines is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a judge.

The 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. Mullins, 54, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died at the scene, and Stines, 43, surrendered without incident.