Mount Sterling man charged with official's murder

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Mount Sterling, Ky. man was charged Friday with murder in the death of a Jeffersonville city official.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports 48-year-old Joseph Julian was charged with murder, driving under the influence and driving on a suspended license in the death of David Ballard, the 51-year-old Jeffersonville commissioner of parks.

Montgomery County Sheriff Fred Shortridge says Julian allegedly hit and killed Ballard with his 1986 Dodge pickup Thursday night and that there may have been "bad blood" between the two.

Shortridge says Ballard owned a barber shop in the same building where Julian lived.

"''There were some verbal arguments. Something was brewing," Shortridge said. "We're thinking David was there to confront Joseph on some statements that Joseph had made previously, and Joseph rammed the vehicle into David."

Julian is being held in the Montgomery County Regional Jail.