A judge in a rural Kentucky county was shot and killed in his courthouse chambers Thursday, and the local sheriff was charged with murder, police said.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines, 43, was taken into custody at the scene without incident, police said. He was charged with one count of first-degree murder.

The governor said the judge was fatally shot in his chambers, and police said the sheriff opened fire following an argument. State police say District Judge Kevin Mullins was hit multiple times in the shooting.