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.

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

Kentucky District Judge Kevin Mullins was shot and killed by a sheriff on Thursday afternoon while in his chambers. Gov. Andy Beshear rebuked the violence in a public statement.

A district judge in Kentucky was fatally shot in his chambers Thursday afternoon, Gov. Andy Beshear said. "Sadly, I have been informed that a district judge in Letcher County was shot and killed in his chambers this afternoon," the governor wrote on X. "There is far too much violence in this world, and I pray there is a path to a better tomorrow."

A Russell County deputy previously employed by Louisville Metro Police is dead after a shooting in Russell Springs in south-central Kentucky.

The sheriff said the deputy was helping Kentucky State Police search for a suspect when the shooting occurred.

The Russell County Fiscal Court says that Russell County Sheriff’s Deputy Josh Phipps was killed in the line of duty. No other details have been released at this time. Laker Country 104.9 WJRS is reporting that an officer was shot on Bluebird Drive in Russell County on Monday night.

Multiple media outlets in Russell Springs, including the Times Journal, reported that there was a shooting in the area of Bluebird Drive. Several sources tell FOX 56 News that a deputy and suspect were shot.